Business Policy & Strategy (BPS) invites submission of creative proposals for PDW sessions for the 2008 AOM conference. Our continuing goal is to make the BPS Division’s PDWs as interactive and innovative as possible. These sessions provide an invaluable opportunity to experiment with new models, formats and ideas that may not fit within the confines of the regular program.

The AOM conference theme for 2008 is “The Questions We Ask.” The intent is for us to take stock of the questions we ask and don’t ask. For instance: What puzzles, conundrums, points of confusion, and unanswered questions really bedevil you and your colleagues? What are the most meaningful questions and why? In an effort to bridge theory and practice, how do “theory-driven” questions stack up against “practice-driven” questions? PDW sessions relevant to the theme and involving two or more divisions and/or interest groups are particularly encouraged. We also ask PDW organizers to reflect on how their session could be best designed to enhance mentorship relationships and enrich communities of practices.  

BPS PDW proposals may be submitted online at: http://submissions.aomonline.org/2008 beginning October 1, 2007. The deadline for submissions is: November 15, 2007.  The PDW program runs from noon Friday through noon Sunday (Aug 8-10) and all PDW participants must commit to participation in advance (proposals require a statement indicating that all PDW participants have consented to participate in the PDW). In addition, the AOM is introducing the “Rule of Three” for the 2008 PDW program: “No one may submit or be associated with more than 3 PDW submissions; or appear in more than 3 PDW sessions during the pre-conference from Friday to Sunday, regardless of whether the sessions are held on-site or off-site”.  While we cannot guarantee that all proposals will be accepted, our goal is to have as broad a representation of the BPS membership as possible.