The Academy of Management is the oldest and among the most prestigious professional associations for scholars and organizations in the field of management. Each year, researchers from around the world gather to share their findings on a wide range of topics. This year’s annual conference was held in Chicago, where over 20 faculty members from Pamplin’s Department of Management presented their research to peers. Below are three selected summaries of Pamplin faculty presentations at the conference.

Devi R. Gnyawali, head of Pamplin’s Department of Management, presented his work on the importance of creating value across multiple entities working in the space economy. In his presentation, entitled “Strategic Alliances, Ecosystems, and Value Creation in New Space,” Gnyawali discussed the tensions and challenges that arise when companies, who may also be competitors, define value differently but need to collaborate on projects such as building and launching small satellites. His presentation explored how these collaborations can succeed despite differing perspectives on value.
Watch Video>>

For people to cooperate in solving problems that impact us all, it is important for them to identify as members of a global society. In her paper, “Unpacking Nested Identity Theory: The Case of Global Social Identity,” A.K. Ward, Associate Professor, collaborated with researchers from around the world to examine this concept. Their research found that, at the local community level, people defined themselves through relationships; at the national level, they were united by emotions or shared feelings; and, finally, at the global level, a sense of solidarity with humans around the world was the key to identification. This has significant implications for businesses with international customers or other stakeholders, as it emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of solidarity and the feeling that “we’re all in this together.”
Watch Video>>

Leadership best-sellers often discuss the influence of a founder’s personality on a company. Katie Brownell, Assistant Professor, presented her paper entitled “The Cascading Effects of Lead Founder Personality on New Venture Team Process,” which explored the impact of founders possessing one of the three Dark Triad personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Brownell found that when present in entrepreneurs, moderate levels of these traits can stimulate innovation, research, and discovery. However, when these traits become more pronounced, the influence rapidly turns negative, leading to potentially harmful effects on both the team and the new business.
Watch Video>>