CBS Paper Development Workshop
Business History Conference, Charlotte, NC, March 12, 2020
Submission deadline: January 10, 2020
In thepast years, uses of the past hasbecome a prominent research theme for business historians and organizationscholars alike. Studies on the usefulness and appropriation of the past haveappeared across diverse fields such as business history, organization studies,marketing, learning & education, and CSR. Uses of history is fashionable. Butwhere will the field go in the future?
In the CBSPDW we seek to focus on questions that have yet to asked, and we would like toexplore the theories and methods that might take the field forward.
The workshop offers an opportunity to getfeedback and generate ideas of how to develop concrete paper drafts that deal,one way or the other, with uses of the past. In addition, the PDW will serve asa forum where we can discuss future directions and opportunities (and potentialdead ends) going forward with a ‘uses-of-the-past’ agenda. What are thequestions and research that are yet to be explored, and what are the role forbusiness historians in shaping a ‘uses-of the past’ research agenda?
Themes to be explored in the papers could include,amongst others:
- Uses of the past for branding, strategy and identity purposes
- Corporate and public museums
- The use (andabuse?) of organizational anniversaries
- Uses of historyin action
- The role and practices of historical consultancies (e.g. WinthropGroup, The History Factory andothers)
- Historical CSR
- Theoretical andmethodological perspectives connected to uses of the past.
- Criticalperspectives on uses of the past
Submitted texts could take form asextended abstracts or full paper drafts. The important thing is that readers canidentify the key arguments, theories and empirical material, for them toprovide useful feedback, suggestions and comments.
Depending on the submitted abstracts andfull papers, the participants and organizers could potentially explore theopportunity of a subsequent special issue on uses of the past in arelevant academic publication, such as, for example Business History.
Participants are expected to read allcirculated papers. Please submit a paper draft or extended abstract before January10, 2020 to the workshop organizers.
Anders Ravn Sørensen, ars.mpp@cbs.dk
Morten Tinning, mti.mpp@cbs.dk
Organizational History Network 