The Questions We Ask
James P. Walsh,  Vice President and Program Chair
University of Michigan
      
The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management will be held August 8-13, 2008 in Anaheim, California. The meeting theme, “The Questions We Ask”, will explore what we do not know about the world of organization and management – and what questions we might dare to ask. Let's take stock of our questions. After all, our answers can only be as good as our questions.

Call for PDW Proposals:

The Academy is currently soliciting proposals for the Professional Development Workshops (PDW) program which will be held from Friday – Sunday during the annual meeting.  The PDW is a platform for colleagues to share knowledge and expertise and foster the professional development of workshop participants. It is an opportunity to develop innovative and creative ideas that will benefit Academy members.

Starting this year, all PDW submissions must be submitted via the AOM submission website. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2007.  If you would like to discuss your idea prior to submitting, please contact the appropriate division and interest group PDW chairs. Their contact information can be found at the 2008 Annual Meeting Website.

NEW this year for the PDW program is the institution of the Rule of Three.  The PDW Rule of Three states:

“No one may submit or be associated with more than 3 PDW submissions to an Academy Meeting; or appear in more than 3 PDW sessions during the PDW program from Friday – Sunday, regardless of whether the sessions are held on-site or off-site”.

Please note that this rule is in addition to the original Rule of Three for the scholarly program at the annual meeting (Monday – Wednesday). These two rules are combined and will now be known as the Rule of Three + Three.

For the first time, the Academy has put aside time for several All-Academy PDWs that will address issues of broad interest to all members of the Academy. Proposals for All-Academy PDWs must address the theme, “The Questions We Ask.” In the tradition of the Pre-conference format, our goal is to provide sessions that will stimulate you to think new thoughts and act in new ways. All-Academy PDWs are not for people who want to just sit back and listen. If you have ideas for an All-Academy PDW, please contact All-Academy PDW Chair, Dianna L. Stone, as soon as possible, and no later than November 15, 2007 to discuss your ideas. If a full proposal is warranted, you will need to submit it to Dianna by December 3, 2007. If you have any questions about the PDW program, please contact the PDW chair from any division, interest group or theme committee. The deadline for submitting PDW Proposals is November 15, 2007. PDW proposals must be submitted online via the Academy's submission website.

Call for Scholarly Submissions (papers and symposia):

Papers and symposia can be submitted beginning on November 1st through the AOM submission website. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2008.  Please Submit Early to ensure that your submission is correct and that it is reviewed.  Last minutes submissions tend to be filled with errors or are incomplete and therefore will not be reviewed.  So please submit early and allow yourself time to make corrections if necessary.

Remember to carefully review the submission guidelines and procedures prior to submitting. You can find this information by visiting the 2008 Annual Meeting website and click on Call for Submissions.

If you plan to participate in this year’s meeting in Anaheim, please take note of the following important dates to remember:

• PDW Submissions - Due October 1, 2007 - November 15, 2007
• Scholarly Submissions - Due November 1, 2007 - January 15, 2008.  Please submit early!
• Reviewer Signup begins - November 1, 2007.
• Deadline for Reviews - February 13, 2008.
• Hotel and registration information is forthcoming. Please check the website often for updates.

We gathered in Seattle after the WTO protests to consider the place of democracy in our work. We went to Washington DC to consider the place of government in our work. And now we are going to Anaheim to take stock of the questions we ask and don’t ask. Anaheim may seem to be an incongruous setting to consider such weighty matters. Some might wonder how we can think clearly in a land of endless sunshine and beautiful beaches. How can we not? If we are to step away from our daily pressures, gather with friends and colleagues, and think hard about our unanswered questions, then let’s do it in a beautiful place.  I am really looking forward to our time together next summer!