Product Development and Management Association (PDMA)

— Call for Papers —

2011 Annual Research Forum, October 29-30, Submission Deadline May 8, 2011

PDMA’s Annual Research Forum is the premier conference for discourse on new product development (NPD) and innovation research.  It is an important forum for intellectual exchange and state-of-the-art research on all aspects of NPD-innovation.  For researchers, it is a stimulating international milieu for developing research partnerships and interacting with other academics or with managers.  For managers, the forum provides an opportunity to learn of the latest research in progress and reflect on their own practice.

This year, the Research Forum will be held on Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Research Forum’s Co-chairs are Professors Gloria Barczak of Northeastern University and Ludwig Bstieler of the University of New Hampshire.

The Co-chairs invite manuscripts, working paper poster sessions, extended abstracts, special session proposals or proposals for a panel discussion that explore new theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, or strategies for success in NPD-innovation management.  The Co-chairs welcome papers on all subjects of NPD-innovation, including but not limited to the design and development of new products, service innovation, collaborative new product development, customer co-creation, user generated content and innovation, leveraging Web 2.0 for NPD and launch, organizing for NPD and innovation, global launch strategies, network effects, diffusion of innovations, reverse innovation, sustainable new product development, open innovation.

Studies using new innovative and cross-disciplinary methods besides the traditional methods of survey, experiments, and historical data are encouraged.  The Co-chairs are especially interested in papers from all academic areas related to NPD-innovation, including disciplines of marketing, operations, management, entrepreneurship, engineering, design, finance, and information systems.  Submissions from all corners of the globe are welcome.

To encourage a breadth of research for high-quality discourse on NPD-innovation, the Co-chairs invite authors to select from four different submission types:

1. Extended Abstract – The extended abstract provides an opportunity to address emerging topics.  Submissions should be about 750 words in length. This abstract should identify the central research question, introduce the most important references and describe the research implications.  Abstracts will be evaluated based on the quality, originality, and value of the research in contributing to knowledge and managerial practice.
2. Competitive Paper – These papers represent the completed work of their authors.  The manuscript for review should be no more that 20 double-spaced pages and should follow the manuscript guidelines of the Journal of Product Innovation Management (JPIM) (http://www.wiley.com/bw/submit.asp?ref=0737-6782&site=1).  NOTE: Only competitive paper submissions will be eligible for a Best Paper or Best Student Paper Award.
3. Special Session – This type of submission provides an opportunity to address an emerging or special interest topic in a special track session or for discourse on a specific NPD-innovation subject of larger interest in a panel discussion.  Special track session submissions should provide a brief abstract that identifies the central research question along with 3-4 papers and their respective authors; abstracts of each of the papers for the proposed special session should be included.  Total length of submission should be 7 pages.  Panel discussion submissions should provide a brief abstract that identifies the central theme of the proposed discussion and its significance to NPD-innovation along with the position statements of 4-5 respective speakers.  Total length of submission is 6 pages.  Special track session and panel discussion proposals will be evaluated based on the quality, originality, and value of the research in contributing to knowledge and managerial practice.
4. Working Paper Poster Session – This format allows participants to present preliminary findings from the early stages of a research program.  Authors will distribute their papers, display their findings poster-style, and discuss their research in an open forum. Submissions should be about 1,000 words in length, and will be evaluated based on quality of the research and contribution to the field.

This year, the Research Forum offers the following awards:

• Best Paper Award* — An award for Best Paper, as determined by reviewers and the research forum committee, will be given.  The outstanding paper award includes a monetary award and a complimentary registration to the 2011 PDMA International Conference.
• Best Student Paper Award* – Doctoral students are particularly encouraged to submit papers for this conference.  An outstanding Student Best Paper award will be given.

*           Important Note:   Only competitive paper submissions will be eligible for a Best Paper or Best Student Paper Award.

Submission Deadline – The submission deadline is May 8, 2011.  Notification of acceptance will be made in June, 2011.  Final versions of all accepted papers must be received by August 31, 2011 for inclusion in the Research Forum Proceedings.  For competitive papers, please follow the JPIM guidelines for manuscript submission.  If your extended abstract, competitive paper, or working paper submission is accepted at least one of the authors MUST register for the conference and plan to attend.  If at least one author does not register by September 15th, the submission will be dropped from the conference program. For special sessions, all authors or speakers are expected to register for the conference and plan to attend.

Papers must be electronically submitted to the conference Co-chairs by the deadline (May 8, 2011) to ludwigb@unh.edu.  In your email, please indicate 2011 PDMA Research Forum and the type of submission within the subject line.