Dear members of the ODC community,
Is organizational change research keeping pace with the world it seeks to explain?
Artificial intelligence, digital transformation, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting societal expectations are reshaping organizations faster than ever before. These developments raise a fundamental question for our field: How can scholars and practitioners work together to ensure that organizational change research remains both rigorous and relevant?
In just a few days, this conversation continues at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Philadelphia-and we warmly invite you to be part of it.
PDW: Bridging the Gap: Aligning Academic Insights with Practical Excellence in Organizational Change
Date & Time: Saturday, August 1, 8:00–11:30 AM
Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown – Franklin 7
Over the past three years, this initiative within the Academy of Management's Organization Development & Change (ODC) Division has grown from a single workshop into an ongoing community dedicated to strengthening dialogue between research and practice.
Together with David Bright (Wright State University) and Rita Čiapaitė-Baublienė (CHANGE LT), I am honored to co-convene this year's workshop with an outstanding panel of distinguished scholars and practitioners:
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Michael Jarrett (INSEAD)
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Alec Levenson (USC Marshall Center for Effective Organizations)
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Greg Voeller (Gagen MacDonald; Association of Change Management Professionals)
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Erika Vaiginienė (Vilnius University)
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Larry Ebert (University of San Francisco)
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Claudy Jules (Jules Advisory Services)
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Debra A. Noumair (Teachers College, Columbia University)
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Katrina Monton (Rutgers University)
Together, we will explore where organizational change research is heading, where practice is already moving ahead, and where new collaborations can create greater impact for both communities.
If you are attending AOM 2026, we hope you will join us. Your questions, perspectives, and experiences are an essential part of this conversation.
We look forward to welcoming you in Philadelphia.
Warm regards,
Gediminas Baublys
Assistant Professor, Vilnius University
On behalf of the workshop organizing team