This doctoral workshop is organized in collaboration with the FINDER project. This project (FINDER) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 813095.

This workshop was originally intended to take place during the SMS Special Conference in Berkeley “Designing the Future: Strategy, Technology, and Society in the 4th Industrial Revolution”, which was canceled due to COVID-19. However, as we all learn to adapt to the challenges presented by this health crisis, we are proud to offer you this workshop in a different and virtual format.

We relabeled the title to “Reshaping Firms in Digital Ecosystems: Designing the Future”.

With the rise of digital technologies, new demands and challenges have emerged that require the attention of practitioners and scholars alike. While the world has grown familiar with digital ecosystems as a platform for future growth, little is known still about the ways firms restructure, reshape, and adapt - proactively or reactively – in response to sudden disruption of the emergent digital ecosystems they are part of. The doctoral workshop will have an interactive intent and will also reflect on the impact of COVID-19 on strategy and innovation; how resilient are we when facing a crisis?  

The main objective of the Doctoral Workshop is to foster interaction among leading faculty scholars and doctoral students on various aspects of research and preparing for a professional career in academia. The doctoral student participants will be offered the opportunity to broaden their academic network with senior faculty from around the world and develop a better understanding of the particularities of the academic career. 

Leading researchers in the field brought their experience into the discussion to further develop participants’ insight into the key themes of this conference.

As a participant you will be able to pitch your research, practicing to anticipate, critically reflect and nuance your contribution as part of the academic debate. The intent is to strengthen and effectively position your research (e.g. the research question, the importance of the research gap, theoretical reasoning, and selection of target journals). Throughout the workshop, you will get a chance to present your work and engage in a constructive dialogue with senior faculty and your peers.

The following workshop program is tentative and is subject to changes as seen fit by the organizers. The program is anticipated to last approximately 2 hours. 

• Welcome and keynotes - FINDER project leaders.
• Doctoral Workshop: In separate digital sessions you will present your paper to distinguished scholars in the field of strategic management of collaboration, networks and technology driven innovation, who will provide you with feedback on your ideas.        
• Q&A: Including all panelists and all other participants. 
• Closing remarks- FINDER project leaders. 

All current doctoral students interested in participating in the workshop are invited to submit one file in the Application Box that includes their Curriculum Vitae (highlighting work corresponding to the conference theme) and a description of their planned dissertation research (maximum 3 pages, single-spaced). The dissertation research document should include the following:

1. research question(s) and importance
2. intended contributions to theory and practice
3. theory or theories to draw from and core constructs of interest (include a conceptual model if possible)
4. the empirical context and methods, and
5. stage of your work and expected completion date

Applications should be submitted through the workshop website by September 30, 2020. 

Applicants will be notified in mid-October 2020 of their application status by the workshop organizers.