Dear colleagues, Language-based theorization and methodologies have enjoyed a long tradition in management research across OT, OB, and Strategy fields. LLMs and multimodal AI tools offer unprecedented opportunities for language-focused research. Curious about the cross-pollination between positivist and constructivist research designs, and the integration of various language approaches for novel conceptual and empirical insights? please join us at 9:00 am on Friday:
PDW: Language and Management: A Panoramic View of Theorization and Methodology
🗓 Friday, July 25 2025 • 🕓 9am -12pm • 📍 Bella Center: Hall C-C3-m6
The PDW will begin with Part I, Showcase Presentations of established and emerging approaches to using and theorizing language, such as discourses, multimodal, and deep-learning computational approaches:
• David Grant, UNSW Sydney
• Dennis Jancsary, University of Liverpool Management School
• Sameer Srivastava, UC Berkeley
Part II will be a Moderated Panel Discussion that explores the intersections and divergences among these approaches, addressing challenges in framing, reviewing, and operationalizing language-focused research:
• Cliff Oswick, City University of London
• Linda Putnam, UC Santa Barbara
• Ping Wang, University of Maryland
• Suzanne Gagnon, University of Manitoba
• Wei Guo, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)
In Part III, Participants will join Breakout Discussions to deepen appreciation for specific areas of interests and obtain feedback on their ideas:
Roundtable 1. Rhetorical and narrative approaches: organization theory, paradox, strategizing, societal grand challenges
• David Grant & Linda Putnam
Roundtable 2. Deep-learning computational linguistics: culture and cognition, identity, competitive strategy, digital innovation
• Sameer Srivastava, Wei Guo, & Ping Wang
Roundtable 3. Discourse analysis: diversity and inclusion, leadership, organizational change, theorization with AI
• Suzanne Gagnon & Cliff Oswick
Roundtable 4. Visual and multimodal analysis: institutional theory, category theory, social evaluation
• Dennis Jancsary & Tao Wang
Roundtable 5. Semiotics and AI techniques: technological and social innovation, institutionalization
• Yuan Li & Will Zhao
Let's "unlock the mystery of language as the foundation for managing, organizing, and strategizing, and unleash language-based methods as instruments for performing research" together in Copenhagen.
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Organizers:
Tao Wang, emlyon business school
Yuan Li, Saint Mary's College of California
Will Zhao, University of Waterloo
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Yuan Li
Professor of Management
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga CA
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