Tag: BHC

Method & Madness – New Special Issue Out!

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On September 22, 2022, the BHC held its second annual mid-year meeting. The theme of the virtual event was “Method and Madness: Historical Interpretation in a New Age of Extremes.” One-hundred, twenty-six people participated, 41 percent of whom were emerging scholars and 55 percent of whom were based outside the United States. 

We are pleased to announce the publication of a collection of peer-reviewed essays based on the conference. The essays all touch of the value of play and playfulness in research methods – especially during historical moments of uncertainty and transformation. They are grouped into four themes: new sources of play, seeing anew, sensing new connections, and entertaining new representations. A list of the essays can be found below and they are all freely available until September and can be found here. 

Sincerely,

Dan

Methods of Musement

Practice of playAuthorsEssay title 
IntroductionWadhwani, SorensenMethods of Musement
  New Sources for PlayKirsch, Decker, Nix, Girish Jain & Kuppili Venkata. Using Born-Digital Archives for Business History: EMCODIST and the Case of E-Mail
Zeng & TaoSocial Media as a source
BlackNoticing Material Culture
 Seeing AnewBallor, Recio & VanattaSurveillance Archive: Using Reports in Business History
VanAccount Books as Social Technologies
   Sensing New ConnectionsHisano & KubeEngaging with Experiences: The Senses as Lenses in Business History
Rinaldi, Salvaj, Pak & HalginDatabases, Network Analysis and Business History
 Villamor, Prieto-Nañez & Kirsch The Promise Of Machine-Learning- Driven Text Analysis Techniques For Historical Research: Topic Modeling And Word Embedding.
Entertaining New RepresentationsStaley & AssmusenModels, Objects and Ghosts: Visualizing History
Wilson & TilbaBusiness History and the ‘Practical Turn’

New deadline: BHC 2023 PDW “Educating for business”

Steph

Educating for business – and the business of education – Historical Perspectives and developments

CBS Paper Development Workshop

Business History Conference, Detroit, March 16-18, 2023

The past years have seen an increasing scholarly interest in the historicity of management learning and education. Studies on historical interrelations between business and education have appeared as journal contributions and special issues across diverse fields such as business history, management- and entrepreneurship studies, and didactical research (Bok, 2009; Bridgman et al. 2016; Clinebell, & Clinebell 2009; Khurana 2007; Spender, 2016; Wadhwani & Viebig 2021), as business schools and educational programs in management are increasingly seen as having a transformational potential to address present-day global challenges. Instead of merely educating for business, business school curricula and didactics are now focused on educating for sustainable solutions and addressing grand challenges (Gatzweiler et al. 2022).  

In the PDW we focus on historicity of business education and, and we would like to explore recent developments as well as theories and methods that might shed new light on the historical development of business education.

The workshop offers an opportunity to get feedback and generate ideas of how to develop concrete paper drafts that deal, one way or the other, with historical aspects of business education. In addition, the PDW will serve as a forum where we can discuss future directions and opportunities for historical studies within the area. What questions and research that are yet to be explored? And what are the role for historians in shaping agendas and research questions?

Themes to be explored in the papers could include, amongst others:

  • The role and development of entrepreneurship education
  • The historicity of business- and management education
  • Historical responses to grand societal challenges
  • Future directions of business education
  • Business school pedagogy and didactics in historical perspective
  • The historical development of business education curricula
  • Theoretical and methodological perspectives connected to business education

Submitted texts could take form as extended abstracts or full paper drafts. The important thing is that readers can identify the key arguments, theories, and empirical material, for them to provide useful feedback, suggestions, and comments.

The PDW is developed in the context of a special issues call on entrepreneurship education in Management & Organizational History. Potential authors for the special issue are encouraged to participate in the workshop, but the PDW is not limited to contributions for this publication.

Participants are expected to read all circulated papers. Please submit a paper draft or extended abstract before February 14 2023 (new deadline) to the workshop organizers.

Christoph Viebig CBS Centre for Business History: cvi.mpp@cbs.dk

Anders Ravn Sørensen, CBS Centre for Business History: ars.mpp@cbs.dk

  • Bok, D. (2003). Universities in the marketplace: The commercialization of higher education. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
  • Bridgman, T., Cummings, S., & McLaughlin, C. 2016. “Restating the case: How revisiting the development of the case method can help us think differently about the future of the business school”. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 15(4): 724-741.
  • Clinebell, S. K., & Clinebell, J. M. (2009). The tension in business education between academic rigor and real-world relevance: The role of executive professors. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 7(1), 99-107.
  • Khurana, R. (2007). From higher aims to hired hands: The social transformation of American business schools and the unfulfilled promise of management as a profession. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Khurana & Spender, J. C. 2012 “Herbert A. Simon on What Ails Business Schools: More than ‘A Problem in Organizational Design’. Journal of Management Studies, 49: 619–639.
  • Wadhwani & Viebig (2021) “Social Imaginaries of Entrepreneurship Education: The United States and Germany, 1800–2020“ Academy of Management Learning & Education 20(3).
  • Gatzweiler et al. (2022) “Grand Challenges and Business Education: Dealing with Barriers to Learning and Uncomfortable Knowledge”, in Research in the Sociology of Organizations, Vol. 79, pp. 221-237.

CfP PDW for BHC 2023

Steph

The Business History of Natural Resources

Business History Conference, Detroit, 16th March, 2023

In recent years, both business historians and economic historians have been reconsidering the significance of natural resources, and there has been a growing interest in examining the historical role of natural resource management and policy in shaping some of the key challenges and trends in the modern world. The economic history of natural resources lies at critical intersections of business, environmental, and political history, as well as providing key opportunities to critically examine histories of race, gender, labour, and imperialism. As our world becomes increasingly reliant on internationalized systems, utilizing business history as a framework through which to examine natural resources is a timely emerging area of historical research with powerful resonance for contemporary issues and strong interdisciplinary potential.

In collaboration with the 2023 Business History Conference and its theme of ‘Reinvention’, this workshop provides an opportunity to share and develop papers on topics relating to the business history of natural resources, broadly defined. The purpose of the workshop is to support the development of historical research on natural resources for publication in high-quality outlets, including The Routledge Handbook on the Economic History of Natural Resources. In addition, workshop participants will discuss how to address the common challenge of writing economic histories of natural resources for multiple audiences across historical, business, political science, and environmental science disciplines, including more explicitly presenting engagement with theoretical debates and demonstrating the necessity of reinvention for harnessing the potential of business history to interrogate emerging phenomena in our current, globalized natural resource industries.

Participants are expected to read all circulated papers. Please submit an extended abstract before January 20th, 2023 to the workshop organizers.

Organizers: Madeleine Dungy, Audrey Gerrard and Espen Storli, Department of Modern History and Society, NTNU.

For any questions about the workshop, or to submit an abstract, please send to: espen.storli@ntnu.no

BHC Kaufman Fellowship Program Coordinator

Steph

Job Description

Context for the Position

The BHC invites applications for the paid, part-time position of Program Coordinator for the new Henry Kaufman Fellowship Program. This new BHC program is funded through a generous donation from Dr. Henry Kaufman. It is intended to encourage emerging scholars to pursue research on topics related to financial history, broadly conceived. The program includes Kaufman Research Fellowships to be awarded annually to PhD candidates who need funds for travel to archives for projects related to financial history, Kaufman Dissertation Fellowships to provide support for PhD candidates who are writing their dissertations, and Kaufman Post-doctoral Fellowships to provide support for PhD recipients within five years of receipt of their degree. The new Program Coordinator will provide support for the recipients of these Kaufman fellowships. Supervised by the BHC Secretary, the Program Coordinator will also interface with the selection committee to ensure the larger goals of the program are met. The new position also works with the Treasurer, who is responsible for the disbursement of funds, while the BHC trustees and their designees have full authority over the Kaufman Fund and its disbursements. Desired Qualifications: Candidates who are professionally engaged in business history and involved in the BHC are preferred. The candidate should also have excellent organization and management skills, be detail oriented, and have strong communications abilities and a track record of responsiveness.

Responsibilities of the Role:

  • Receive and organize applications for the Kaufman program for review by the Kaufman Committee.
  • Maintain a database of applicants and recipients of Kaufman fellowships, for use by the Kaufman Committee and for reporting purposes.
  • Coordinate with the Kaufman Committee chair and BHC Secretary in communicating with applicants.
  • Monitor recipients to ensure that funding was used for designated purposes, including maintaining processes for inbound reporting, reviewing these reports, and analyzing data for the Kaufman Committee and BHC Secretary.
  • Coordinate ongoing conversations between Kaufman Committee and treasurer regarding budgeting for the program’s support and marketing needs.
  • Maintain all data and records with regard to the program.
  • Aid in the development of the Kaufman Program’s annual report for submission to the BHC Secretary.

To apply: Please send a current CV, cover letter, and a list of three references to the BHC Secretary, Dr. Vicki Howard at vickihowardbhc[at]gmail.com

Deadline for applications is Nov 14, 2022.

Job opportunity in Digital Strategy Research

Steph

Happy holidays everyone, and here is a quick holiday announcement of a new paid-for role at the BHC!

Applications Invited for Research Associates (8 months) for Digital Strategy Research Project of the Business History Conference

About the BHC

The Business History Conference is a scholarly organization devoted to encouraging all aspects of research, writing, and teaching about business history and about the environment in which businesses operate. Founded in 1954, the organization is now international in scope, with approximately 30 percent of its membership residing outside North America.

About the project

The BHC´s digital presence began under the leadership of Pat Denault in the early 2000s. Now the BHC manages a website, a blog, and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn). In addition, especially with the coronavirus pandemic, some of its regular events have become virtual, thus the BHC increasingly relies on digital technology to connect with its members. Anticipating more changes to the technological and economic environment, BHC´s Web Editor (Paula de la Cruz-Fernández) and Web Administrator (Shane Hamilton) have received authorization from the BHC Trustees to initiate a thorough review of our current digital strategies. This review of officers’ and members’ expectations and experiences of our existing digital tools, as well as consideration of best practices being pioneered by other organizations in a turbulent environment, will guide the future digital work of our officers and directors.

The BHC invites applications for two research positions, each eight months in duration. The work begins in February and continues through September (a total of 30 weeks). We expect the researchers to work 10 hours a week ($20/hour). One of the researchers must be fully bilingual in Spanish and English.

The researchers will, in coordination with the BHC Electronic Media Oversight Committee and the BHC Web Editor and Web Administrator:

  • Review current platforms and usage of them.
  • Interview users of web platforms and events (both in person and online interview).
  • Run focus groups to learn more about perceptions related to the Annual Meeting, the Doctoral Colloquium, and the Mid-year event among others. 
  • Research what other organizations are doing in regards to online initiatives and virtual/hybrid meetings.
  • Collect pertinent information in terms of digital best practices for scholarly organizations. 
  • Assist in the creation of a strategy report.

Requirements to apply:

  • One of the researchers must be bilingual.
  • Graduate students / emerging scholars are encouraged to apply.
  • Strong awareness of digital communications technologies, including social media tools, web platforms, and video conferencing platforms, though advanced technical skills (e.g., coding, server or database management) are not necessary.
  • Knowledgeable or familiar with scholarly associations and also with business history.

Application process:

  • Send a letter of interest explaining your experience in digital projects and potential contributions to the project. 
  • Brief CV. 

Send documents in one PDF file to the project directors Paula de la Cruz Fernandez and Shane Hamilton at web-editor@thebhc.org by January 14th, 2022.

Great new tool available via the BHC

Steph

The Business History Conference´s Collective Bibliography is a searchable database of references related to the following themes:

  • Business history and race
  • Gender and business history
  • Business history in Latin America
  • Business and Power

Users of the tool, which is open to all on the BHC´s website, can search by collections (see themes above), by type of document, and by key terms. The database contains over 1000 references contributed by scholars in business history. The Business History Conference continues to expand this resource and soon will add a collection on Chinese business history and Teaching resources in business history.

For contributions or questions, please contact the BHC´s web editor [web-editor at thebhc.org]

BHC Mentoring for Emerging Scholars

Steph

This year, the Business History Conference will be held virtually for the first time.  

This new format presents us with both challenges and opportunities.  The Emerging Scholars Committee usually runs networking events, such as a drinks reception and a breakfast.  While we will miss seeing all of you in person this year, we hope to maintain some of these traditions in the new virtual format and to continue to provide a supportive space to network and meet other scholars.

We are launching a new mentoring scheme, which will provide participants at the virtual BHC with a valuable opportunity to gain advice and insight from more advanced scholars in the field on everything from completing a dissertation to finding research funding, navigating the academic job market to exploring possibilities for business historians beyond the academy. 

If you would like to participate, please contact Victoria Barnes <barnes@rg.mpg.de>

We aim to begin the process of introducing mentors with mentees on the 17th February.

With best wishes,

Grace Ballor, Victoria Barnes, Jessica Burch, Valeria Giacomin, Sven Kube and Andrew McGee

The Emerging Scholar Committee

Deadline approaching for BHC Doctoral Colloquium submissions!

Steph

The BHC Doctoral Colloquium in Business History will be held once again in conjunction with the 2020 BHC annual meeting. This prestigious workshop, funded by Cambridge University Press, will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday, March 11th and Thursday March 12th, 2020. Typically limited to ten students, the colloquium is open to doctoral candidates who are pursuing dissertation research within the broad field of business history, from any relevant discipline (e.g., from economic sociology, political science, cultural anthropology, or management, as well as history).  Most participants are in year 3 or 4 or their degree program, though in some instances applicants at a later stage make a compelling case that their thesis research had evolved in ways that led them to see the advantages of an intensive engagement with business history.

The theme of the 2020 BHC annual meeting is “Collaboration in Business and Business History.”  We welcome proposals from students working within the conference theme, as well as any other thematic area of business history.  Topics (see link for past examples) may range from the early modern era to the present, and explore societies across the globe.  Participants work intensively with a distinguished group of BHC-affiliated scholars (including the incoming BHC president), discussing dissertation proposals, relevant literatures and research strategies, and career trajectories. 

Applications are due by 15 November 2019 via email to amy.feistel@duke.edu and should include: a statement of interest; CV; preliminary or final dissertation prospectus (10-15 pages); and a letter of support from your dissertation supervisor (or prospective supervisor).  All participants receive a stipend that partially defrays travel costs to the annual meeting.  Applicants will receive notification of the selection committee’s decisions by the end of 2019.

The director of the Colloquium is Edward Balleisen, Professor of History and Public Policy, Duke University.  Other faculty participants include:

Gustavo del Angel, Professor of Economics, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE), Mexico City (Mexican and Latin American Business History)

Neil Rollings, Professor of Economic and Business History, University of Glasgow (European Business History)

Susie Pak, Professor of History, St. Johns University (American Business History)

Madeleine Zelin, Professor of History, Columbia University (Chinese and Asian Business History)

New BHC Prize: The Martha Moore Trescott Award

Steph

The Martha Moore Trescott Award (honoring Paul Uselding, Harold F. Williamson, Richard C. Overton, Alfred  D. Chandler, and Albro Martin)

The Business History Conference is delighted to announce the establishment of a new prize, The Martha Moore Trescott Award. The prize, generously funded by a bequest from the estate of the late Martha Moore Trescott, will be awarded to the best paper at the intersection of business history and the history of technology presented at the annual meeting of the Business History Conference. The award honors pioneering scholars Paul Uselding, Harold F. Williamson, Richard C. Overton, Alfred D. Chandler, and Albro Martin. Martha Moore Trescott was herself a pioneering member of the BHC and published extensively, particularly on the role of women in science and engineering, while she worked in academic administration for several universities. The prize will be for the amount of $500.

Criteria and eligibility:

The BHC will establish a prize committee of three under the terms set out in the by-laws. The prize will be awarded on the basis of the written version of a paper to be presented at the annual meeting. Those wishing to be considered for the prize must indicate so at the time of submitting their original proposal for the meeting. Self-nominating scholars must also provide the written paper to the Chair of the committee not less than one month before the annual meeting. Though the prize will be awarded on the basis of the written paper, candidates must attend the meeting and present their work. Scholars who are eligible for the Kerr Prize may also enter the Trescott Award. There are no other restrictions on eligibility.

Written papers should be no longer than 4,000 words (exclusive of notes, bibliography, appendices, figures and illustrations).

CfP: PDW on International Business and Civilizations

Steph

PDW Call for Papers

International Business and Civilizations

Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2017 for abstracts

Thursday, March 30, 2017
Embassy Suites Denver Downtown
1420 Stout Street, Denver, Colorado, 80202, USA

Organized under the auspice of the BHC workshop committee Contact: Teresa da Silva Lopes (teresa.lopes@york.ac.uk), Heidi Tworek (heidi.tworek@ubc.ca) and Christina Lubinski (cl.mpp@cbs.dk) 

In recent years, both business historians and international business scholars have grown increasingly interested in the promise of using historical sources, methods and reasoning in international business research. History, it has been argued, can be valuable in addressing a number of limitations in traditional approaches, including in accounting for contexts and institutions, in understanding the relationship between international entrepreneurship and economic change, in providing multi-­‐‑ level perspectives on international business and in showing connections between business and regional ways of life. Business historians have for long engaged with business behavior across borders and international opportunity recognition and are increasingly making their work pertinent to new audiences, in international business scholarship and at business schools.

With the Business History Conference devoting the 2017 annual conference to the theme of “civilizations,” the preceding one-­‐‑day Paper Development Workshop offers developmental feedback to papers explicitly targeting the double audience of international business and history scholars. The purpose of the workshop is to support the development of historical research on international business for publication in high-­‐‑quality outlets, including “The Routledge Companion to the Makers of Global Business.” In addition, workshop participants will discuss how to address the common challenge of writing for a dual audience of historians and international business scholars, including more explicitly presenting the engagement with theory and demonstrating the contribution historical methods and sources make to studying international business phenomena.

We invite papers that explore broad connections between international business and society, the mutual influences of business and culture, the impact of international business activities on home and host countries, the emergence of standards for moral and legitimate international business behavior, and the positive and negative effects of business activities across borders and over time. Authors are encouraged to address what “global” means in the context of their respective work, how the global nature of business changed over time and which actors contributed to this change. All papers should expand current thinking on international business by addressing long-­‐‑term developments based on historical sources and methodologies and by exploring arguments and methods capable of explaining change over time.

We welcome work-­‐‑in-­‐‑progress at all stages of development. Interested scholars may submit two types of submissions for discussion: full research papers (8,000 words) or paper ideas (1,000 to 3,000 words). The workshop will take place immediately before the BHC meeting and at the same location. Paper selection and registration is separate from the annual meeting; participation in both BHC meeting and workshop is possible. There will be a modest registration fee to recover catering costs.

If you are interested in participating, please submit an initial abstract of max. 300 words and a one-­‐‑page CV before Friday, January 15, 2017 to Teresa da Silva Lopes (teresa.lopes@york.ac.uk), Heidi Tworek (heidi.tworek@ubc.ca) and Christina Lubinski (cl.mpp@cbs.dk). Invitations to the PDW will be sent out before February 15, 2017. Full paper (8,000 to 12,000 words) or paper idea (1,000 to 3,000 words) submissions will be expected by Friday, March 3, 2017. Please feel free to contact the organizers with your paper ideas if you are interested in early feedback or want to inquire about the fit of your idea with this PDW.