News Updates

The Eleventh International Symposium on Multinational Business Management–Digital Intelligence, Corporate Transformation, and Strategic Human Resources Management

第十一届企业跨国经营国际研讨会

数智时代、企业变革与战略人力资源管理

(更新版通知)

The Eleventh International Symposium on Multinational Business Management–

Digital Intelligence, Corporate Transformation, and Strategic Human Resources Management (Updated Version)

June 21-23, 2024

Nanjing, China

Call for Papers

Organizing Institutions

Organized and Sponsored by

School of Business, Nanjing University, People’s Republic of China

南京大学商学院

Co-Sponsored by

School of Business, Saint Vincent College, USA

美国圣文森特学院

Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management,

Claremont Graduate University, USA

美国克莱蒙特研究生大学彼得·德鲁克管理学院

Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University, USA

美国康奈尔大学约翰逊研究生管理学院

 Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Göttingen, Germany 

 德国哥廷根大学经济学院

Maastricht University-Maastricht School of Management, the Netherlands

荷兰马斯特里赫特管理学院

College of Business Administration,

University of Missouri–St. Louis, USA

美国密苏里大学圣路易斯分校商学院

Woosong University, Republic of Korea

韩国又松大学

Supported by

Department of Management Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China

中国国家自然科学基金会管理学部

[Conference Background]

Since AlphaGo defeated human chess grandmasters in 2016, digital intelligence (DI) has presented unique challenges, been touted as a new technical breakthrough, and has promised new commercial opportunities. DeepMind has tackled long-standing thorny problems, with its offshoot AlphaFold predicting a protein’s 3D structure at incredible speed and precision, a feat that had eluded scientists for decades. AlphaFold’s 3D protein structure predicts positive implications for medicine and life sciences. ChatGPT, a human language model released in 2020 by OpenAI, dramatically surpasses the performance of domain-specific natural language processing (NLP) tools. ChatGPT is able to perform a range of tasks, from producing poetry and philosophical reflections to writing business plans and technical manuals; posing opportunities and challenges to business and business school. Price Waterhouse Coopers estimates that DI will create $15.7 trillion in economic value by 2030. Businesses are embracing and racing to deploy DI in fields as diverse as agriculture, banking, and retail. The DI trend means that managers, industry observers and critics, and academics are grappling with what the rapid progress of digital intelligence means for the future of humanity. The Eleventh International Symposium on Multinational Business Management asks: What are the challenges and opportunities businesses face in the coming digital intelligence era?

With the rapid development of digital technology, the future will witness DI creating significant changes for businesses worldwide. In the post-COVID period, organizations are facing a new set of challenges, including the need to cope with accelerating technology development, environments of heightened competition, new market identification, restructured work processes and modes, and new stakeholder demands. Failure to adapt to these changes will pose a competitive threat to existing organizations. Firms embracing and developing DI will gain competitive advantages in the new business environment. To successfully transform itself in the DI era, organizations must be agile, innovative, and adaptable. These requirements also pose significant challenges. For example, organizations will need to adapt DI and innovate in DI-related technologies, while also managing costs and balancing short-term and long-term objectives. Another challenge is how organizational structures will support agility and flexibility in the DI era, which will require deep-rooted reform to many management aspects, including strategy, HRM, internal financial systems, leadership, and communication practices. It is unclear how organizations will tackle these DI challenges. The Eleventh International Symposium on Multinational Business Management asks: What steps will need to be taken to ensure that businesses can navigate these uncertain DI waters and build competitive advantages?

In the DI era, strategic human resources will become an even more critical factor for businesses to achieve successful transformation. Strategic human resources refers to the collection of knowledge, skills, and abilities embedded in a business’ employees that enable firms to achieve their strategic objectives. While the importance of strategic human resources is undeniable, developing and managing it effectively remains a significant challenge for managers. One of the major challenges that organizations face is the rapid pace of technological advancement, which requires continuous updating of employees’ skills and knowledge to maintain firm competitiveness. Another HRM hurdle is the alignment of human resource practices with the organization’s strategic goals, which necessitates careful planning and execution. In industries where digital skills are in high demand, businesses may struggle to attract and retain top talents, further complicating the DI challenge. In light of these challenges, how can organizations ensure they are effectively cultivating and retaining strategic human capital resources in this digital intelligence era?

We have chosen “Multinational Business Management—Digital Intelligence, Corporate Transformation, and Strategic Human Resources Management” as the theme of the 11th International Symposium on Multinational Business Management. To explore solutions to these DI challenges, Nanjing University will host the 11th International Symposium on Multinational Business Management on June 21-23, 2024. This symposium follows the earlier symposiums held in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020. The 11th Symposium provides a forum for researchers, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs from multinational firms to discuss opportunities, challenges, and HRM solutions in multinational business management in the digital intelligence era.  

We cordially invite you to participate in this international symposium, to be held at the School of Business, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China on June 21-23, 2024. It will be our privilege to welcome you to share your research findings, management experience, and creative ideas with national and international participants from diverse backgrounds. We call for academic papers from scholars, experts, and practitioners at home and abroad. 

[Conference Theme]

Submissions may include theoretical issues, new ideas, methodological issues, empirical studies, or case studies in the field of enterprise management and developments of Chinese and/or multinational organizations confronting new digital technologies, business transformation, and strategic human capital resource management challenges.  

[Research Topics]

Research topics related to digital intelligence, corporate transformation, strategic human resources management, organizational behavior, corporate governance, operation management, and marketing are all welcome. Possible topics include but are not limited to the following: 

Digital Intelligence

 Digital Intelligence & Human Resource Management

 Digital Intelligence & Organizational Behavior

 Digital Transformation

 Human Resource Management & New Technologies

 Big Data & Business Analytics

 Data-Driven Decisions in Supply Chain Management

 New-Retail

Corporate Transformation

 Management Strategy

 Leadership& Top Management Teams

 Organizational Culture & Transformation

 Mergers and acquisitions in the Digital Intelligence Era

 Sustainable Transformation

 Ethics & Social Responsibility

 Risk Management & Accountability

Strategic Human Resources Management

 Strategic Human Resources

 Talent Management & New Technologies

 Selection, Recruitment and Retention in the Digital Intelligence Era

 Skill Development & Digital Technologies

 Performance Management & Digital Metrics

 Employee Engagement & Well-Being

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[Call for Submissions]

With excitement, we invite you to submit to the 11th International Symposium on Multinational Business Management. 

Submission method: 

Please submit an e-version of the paper, via e-mail: ISMBM2023@nju.edu.cn

The Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Multinational Business Management and selected research papers from the Symposium will be published. Failure to comply with the instructions provided below will preclude the inclusion of the paper in the symposium publication.

To get ready for submission:

  • Delve into the theme: “Multinational Business Management—Digital Intelligence, Corporate Transformation, and Strategic Human Resources Management”.
  • Author(s) of a paper to be published in the proceedings must format his/her paper suitable for direct photographic reproduction by the publisher. To unify the paper format throughout the volume, all the papers should be prepared strictly according to the submission guidelines below.

Submission Guidelines

  • Cover Page

All papers must include a cover page with the following information:  

Author name(s), affiliation, professional title, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.

  • Paper Format

The first page should be the cover page described above. The main text of the paper should be no less than 10 (A4) and no more than 25 (A4) pages, including all tables, figures, notes, and references. Papers must be written in English and follow the format instructions below.

1. Microsoft Word for Office is the word processor used. A word processor compatible with MS Word is acceptable.

2. Please use Times Roman 12-point type and traditional default margin settings. All pages, tables, footnotes, and equations should be numbered.  

3. The first letter of each word in the title should be capitalized, and the title should be centered and in boldface.

4. Centered and two lines below the title are author’s (authors’) name(s) and affiliation(s). Author’s (authors’) address(es), and /or E-mail(s) should be footnoted, as are any acknowledgments made by author(s).

5. The word ABSTRACT in capital letters should be centered and in bold two lines below the last author’s information.

6. Following the abstract are the keywords on a separate line.   

7. The main text should be double-spaced. Do not use a heading called INTRODUCTION.

8. No more than three levels of headings should be used. The first-level headings should be capitalized, left justified, and in boldface. The second-level headings have the first letters of each word capitalized, left justified, and bold. The third-level headings have the first letters of each word capitalized. All headings are on a single line.

9. Footnotes should be used sparingly. Do not use endnotes. Footnotes should not be used for literature citations. Rather, the work should be cited by the author’s name and year of publication in the main text [e.g. (McCarty, 1995)].

10. Use double space in the main text, but single space between text and numbers in tables.

11. Tables and Figures should be labeled as such, e.g., Table 1 or Figure 1, centered and in bold. Double space should be between label and title. Center and bold the title of tables and figures. Double space and insert a line from the left side margin to the right side margin, forming the top border of the table or figure. Repeat the line at the bottom of the table or figure as the bottom border. Minimize the use of lines in the table and use no lines on the left and right sides of tables and figures. Please be sure to indicate the table or figure callouts within the manuscripts.

12. References should start on a new page with the title REFERENCES capitalized, centered, and in bold. Entries should be double-spaced and arranged in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first author. For example: Zhao, S.M. and Du, J. “Thirty-two Years of Development of Human Resource Management in China: Review and Prospects,” Human Resource Management Review, 2012, 3: 179-188.

Submission Deadline  

The deadline for submitting the full-length paper is December 30, 2023.

Acknowledgement of Receipt

We will acknowledge receipt of the submission by e-mail to the corresponding author. All the papers will be double-blind reviewed. The Secretariat will inform the author(s) of the acceptance or rejection decision by March 30, 2024.

[Conference Dates]

The 11th International Symposium on Multinational Business Management will be held in Nanjing, P.R. China on June 21-23, 2024.   

[Tentative Schedule]

April 20, 2023First announcement
December 30,2023Deadline for submitting full-length paper
March 30, 2024Invitation letter and registration form (the 2nd announcement)
May 1, 2024Deadline for early bird registration
June 21, 2024On-site registration
June 22, 2024 MorningOpening ceremony, keynote speeches, and plenary session  
June22, 2024 AfternoonParallel sessions  
June 23, 2024 MorningKeynote speeches and plenary session
June 23, 2024 AfternoonParallel sessionsConference plenary session and closing ceremony

[Languages]

Papers submitted to the symposium must be in English. The working language for the plenary sessions of this symposium will be English. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for plenary sessions, but not for parallel sessions. All paper presentations and session discussions will be in English.  

[Conference Payment]

Early bird registration fee(before May 1, 2024)Regular registration fee
Participants from Mainland ChinaRMB1800 yuanRMB2600 yuan
Student attendees from Mainland ChinaRMB1000 yuanRMB1400 yuan
Overseas participantsUS$360US$420
Overseas studentsUS$180US$210

Please keep up with our further announcement(s) to pay registration fees.

Please specify that the payment is for the Eleventh International Conference registration fees. The fee includes a welcoming reception, all meals during the symposium, and symposium proceedings. The fee does not include transportation for participants from his/her location to the symposium, accommodations, insurance and medical fees, etc.

[Accommodations]

The organizer will assist participants in reserving hotel accommodations at the conference rate.

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[Planning Committee Chairperson]

Dr. Shuming ZHAO

Nanjing University Senior Professor, Honorary Dean

School of Business and Dean of Xingzhi College  

Nanjing University

16 Jinyin Jie, Nanjing 210093

P. R. China

Tel.: 86-25-83592077 (O)

E-mail: zhaosm@nju.edu.cn

[Planning Committee Vice-Chairpersons]

Dr. Ya-Ru CHEN  

Professor of Management and Global Business  

Johnson Graduate School of Management

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY 14853

U.S.A.

Tel.: 607-255-1974

E-mail: yc659@cornell.edu

Dr. John DELANEY  

Vice President and Professor of Management

Saint Vincent College  

300 Fraser Purchase Road  

Latrobe, PA

U.S.A.

Tel.:724-805-2088

E-mail: john.delaney@stvincent.edu

Dr. Joshua K. PARK

Dean, SolBridge International School of Business

Woosong University

Daejeon, Republic of Korea

Tel.: 82-42-630-8855

E-mail: dean@solbridge.ac.kr

Dr. Meinhard GANS  

Chief Executive, Maastricht School of Management

Dean a.i. Maastricht School of Management

P.B. Box 1203

6201 BE Maastricht

The Netherlands

Tel.: 31-433870866

E-mail: gans@msm.nl

Prof. Mattias SCHUMANN

Professor and Dean  

Faculty of Economic Sciences and

University of Göttingen

Platz der Göttingen Sieben 5

D-37073 Göttingen, Germany

Tel.: +49 (0)551 / 39-24442

E-mail: mschuma1@uni-goettingen.de

Dr. Kristin SOBOLIK  

Chancellor  

University of Missouri-St. Louis

One University Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63121-4400

U.S.A.

Tel.: +1 (314) 516-5252

E-mail: chancellor@umsl.edu

Dr. David SPROTT   

Henry Y. Hwang Dean and Professor of Marketing

Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, CA 91711

U.S.A.

Tel.: 909-607-3811

E-mail: david.sprott@cgu.edu

[Planning Committee Vice Chairperson and Secretary General]

Dr. Chunlin LIU  

Professor and Former Dean of School of Management

School of Business

Nanjing University

16 Jinyin Jie

Nanjing 210093

P.R. China

Tel.: 86-25-83593515 (O)

E-mail: liucl@nju.edu.cn

[Planning Committee Executive Vice Secretaries General]

Dr. Quansheng WANG

Professor and Associate Dean

School of Business

Nanjing University

16 Jinyin Jie

Nanjing 210093

P. R. China

Tel.: 86-25-83621104 (O)

E-mail: wangqs@nju.edu.cn

[Planning Committee Vice Secretaries General]

Ms. Yongju CAO

Associate Dean

School of Business

Nanjing University

16 Jinyin Jie

Nanjing 210093

P.R. China  

Tel.: 86-25-83593929

E-mail: cyju@nju.edu.cn

Dr. FABIAN JINTAE FROESE

Professor and Chair  

Department of Human Resource Management

 Faculty of Economic Sciences and

 University of Göttingen 

Platz der Göttingen Sieben 5 

D-37073 Göttingen 

Germany 

Tel.: + 49 (0)551/3926171

E-mail: ffroese@uni-goettingen.de

Dr. Liangding JIA  

Professor and Associate Dean

School of Management  

School of Business

Nanjing University

16 Jinyin Jie

Nanjing 210093

P. R. China

Tel.: 86-25-83621097 (O)

E-mail: jldyxlzs@nju.edu.cn

Dr. Stephen NICHOLAS

Emeritus Professor of International Business

University of Newcastle

Callaghan NSW, 2308, Australia

and Honorary Professor

National Institute of Management and Commerce

1 Central Ave South, Sydney NSW 2015, Australia

Tel.: 44-7930942097

E-mail: stephen.nicholas@newcastle.edu.au

Dr. Joseph W. ROTTMAN  

Director, International Business Institute

Chair, COBA Strategic Planning & Innovation Committee

Professor of Information Systems

University of Missouri St. Louis

350 J C Penney North

One University Boulevard

St. Louis MO 63121

Office: +1 (314) 516-6286

E-mail: Rottman@umsl.edu

Dr. Jinping YU

Professor and Associate Dean

School of Business

Nanjing University  

16 Jinyin Jie

Nanjing 210093

P.R. China

Tel.: 86-25-83621350

E-mail: yujp@nju.edu.cn

Dr. Zhengtang ZHANG  

Professor and Associate Dean  

School of Management  

School of Business

Nanjing University

16 Jinyin Jie

Nanjing 210093

P. R. China

Tel.: 86-25-83621051 (O)

E-mail: njzzt2005@126.com

[Planning Committee Members]

Dr. Donghua CHEN

Professor, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Lihua CHEN

Professor, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Xi CHEN  

Professor and Chair, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Dejun CHENG

Professor and Chair, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Wanwen DAI   

Associate Professor, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yiren DONG    

Associate Professor, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Wei HE  

Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yunhui HUANG

Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Chunyan JIANG  

Professor and Director of EMBA/International Business Educational Center, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Shu LIN  

Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Hong LIU

Professor, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yuchuan LIU

Assistant Professor, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Jing LONG

Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yina MAO

Professor, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Lifang SHI

Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Zhe SONG

Professor, Department of Marketing& Electronic Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Sun Young SUNG

Associate Professor, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Xiangnan Tao

Associate Professor, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Ying XIA  

Assistant Researcher, Department of Human Resource Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Xiaolin XU  

Professor, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Zhijian XU

Professor, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Bing WANG

Associated Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Guocai WANG

Associated Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Xiang WANG

Associate Professor, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yuetang WANG

Professor, Department of Accounting, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yizhen WU

Associate Professor and Director, EDP Center, School of Business, Nanjing University, China  

Dr Xue YANG

Professor, Department of Marketing and E-Business, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Xiao ZHANG

Professor and Chair, Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Dr. Yixuan ZHAO

Associate Professor, Department of Human Resources Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

[Secretariat]

Ms. Ke Fang

Administrative Office, School of Business, Nanjing University

Tel.: 86-25-83621900

E-mail: kf@nju.edu.cn

[Contact Information]

Mr. Yuanben Li

Vice Director, Administrative Office, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Ms. Feng Han

Vice Director, Administrative Office, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Ms. Mengtian Zhu

Vice Director, Administrative Office, School of Business, Nanjing University, China

Ms. Miao Yu

Secretary to the Department Chair, School of Management, School of Business, Nanjing University, China