Conference Submission Guidelines
Key Dates!
- Call for Papers Deadline: January 20, 2025
- Paper Reviews Assigned: January 24, 2025
- Paper Review Deadline: February 17, 2025
- Paper Decision Announcements: February 21, 2025
- Conference Registration Opens: February 21, 2025
- Preliminary Conference Program Distributed: April 14, 2025
- Program Presenter Registration Deadline: April 18, 2025 (At least one presenter from all accepted submissions must have registered by this date. Any submissions without at least one registered presenter will be removed from the conference program)
- Conference Registration ‘Early Bird’ Pricing Ends: May 9, 2025 (All registration fees +$75 after this date)
- Final Conference Program Distributed: May 9, 2025
- On-Campus Housing Option Ends: May 25, 2025
- Conference Dates: June 10 - 13, 2025
To complete your online submission, you will need the following information:
- Session Title
- Abstract (100 word maximum)
- Three Keywords
- Upload your submission and any supplementary information in a single PDF or Word (DOC or DOCX) file. PDF is the preferred format. See Submission Guidelines for information on the formatting of your submission for different session formats.
- Author information and affiliation
- Session format. See Submission Guidelines for information on the three types of session formats (activity or exercise, roundtable discussion, general discussion)
- All sessions will be set to 60-minutes in the conference program. Accepted sessions do not 'share' session space. Each session has its own slot to present amongst typically 8-11 concurrent sessions for each time slot in the program.
- Conference Track. Indicate whether your session should be considered for the Conference Theme track. Sessions in this track will be grouped such that conference attendees can attend multiple sessions devoted to the conference theme. If you would you like your session to be considered for the Conference Theme track, please select such above. If your session was developed with the conference theme in mind (see the Call for Information on the theme), please select Conference Theme Track.
- If you are submitting to the Conference Theme Track, indicate how the session fits with the conference theme, “Don't Stop Believin'.”
- Unique Contribution. Indicate whether:
- You have presented the work in this proposal before, at MOBTS or elsewhere? If yes, explain how this proposal is different.
- The proposal is currently under review elsewhere. If yes, explain how it will be different at the MOBTS conference.
- You will be asked to create a Password for the submission. The submission ID, which you will receive via email upon submission of this form, along with this password will allow you to make future changes to this submission.
- Indicate whether this is your first time submitting to an MOBTS conference (formerly OBTC) and any comments you may have for the program chair.
- Click Make Submission
Although there are different session formats, all MOBTS sessions are expected to engage participants, either in an activity demonstration or in discussion or debate. As you prepare your submission, please keep this in mind. Reviewers will want to be able to understand from your submission how you will actively engage participants in your session.
Regarding manuscript preparation, your session submission for all session formats should adhere to the following General Preparation Guidelines:
- There is a 1000 - 2000 word limit on the main body of all submissions regardless of the session format. This word limit EXCLUDES abstract, figures, tables, references, and appendices.
- Prepare your manuscript for electronic transmission in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Use 12-point Times New Roman typeface, and double-space throughout.
- Make sure that all text is left-aligned (i.e., ragged-right edge), all paragraphs are indented, and there is no additional space after paragraphs.
- Insert a running head that reflects the focus of the session in the upper right-hand corner of each page.
- Include page numbers in the upper right-hand corner of each page, after the running head.
- On the first page, include the title, abstract (100 words), and keywords (3).
- Remove all author-identifying information throughout the document. All author information will be entered in the web-based submission process.
- If using appendices, label them Appendix A, Appendix B, etc., and be sure you refer to them in the text.
- Please write in the first person. Use first-person singular (i.e., I) for a single-authored paper and first-person plural (i.e., we) for papers with multiple authors.
- Follow the Manuscript Guidelines specific to each type of Session format:
- Activity/Exercise
- Roundtable Discussion
- Symposium
An Activity/Exercise session is an opportunity to share with colleagues a classroom activity or exercise that you have used successfully to demonstrate, introduce, or otherwise engage students in a management topic or topics. These sessions should aim to demonstrate how participants can use and debrief the activity/exercise in their own classrooms, and provide them with the instructions and materials for doing so.
Manuscripts for Activities/Exercises should adhere to the 1000 - 2000 word limit (excluding abstract, figures, tables, references, and appendices) and generally follow the structure outlined below. This structure is adapted from the Management Teaching Review (MTR) format for Experiential Exercises.
- Introduction. Provide a brief introduction that establishes a need for this type of exercise and identifies the target usage. Include potential course applications and explain for whom the exercise is designed: early undergraduate, late undergraduate, graduate, etc.; traditional, non-traditional, cross-cultural, etc.).
- Theoretical Foundation/Teaching Implications. Briefly specify the relevant background literature that the exercise is based upon and how your session contributes to effective teaching and learning in the field of management.
- Learning Objectives. Specify the learning objectives for the exercise by articulating the expected changes in knowledge, attitude, or skill that are associated with participation in the activity. What teaching topics are relevant to your session?
- Exercise Overview. Provide an overview of the activity/exercise, including the logistics of running the exercise (e.g. timing, materials, class size), the flow of the exercise, variations or alternate applications, debriefing guidelines (e.g. questions to ask, how students generally respond). The goal is to give the reviewer enough information so that they understand what the activity is that you plan to present in your session.
- Session Description. Provide an overview of what you will actually do in the MOBTS conference session. Include a timeline for the session and how participants will be involved. Remember, reviewers are looking for participant engagement in these sessions.
In 2024, MOBTS reimagined its roundtable session as Roundtable Provocations. In an effort to return MOBTS discussions back to its roots, such roundtable proposals are charged with asking bold, provocative, philosophical questions, meant to examine an issue many layers deep. These issues may indeed be uncomfortable ones, but ones that in the safe space of MOBTS can be explored, discussed, and respectfully debated in depth. These Roundtable Provocation sessions are an opportunity for participants to engage with other participants in lively provocative topic relevant not only to management teaching and learning, but academia and society as a whole. Although the focus of the discussion might shift depending on participants who are gathered for the discussion, a Roundtable Provocation session should have a clear focus and well-researched agenda. The goal of Roundtable Provocation discussion can vary from brainstorming solutions to a problem, debating a controversial topic, or generally discussing a classroom or management issue. It is critically important to note that such topics will be assessed with increased rigor than has historically been the norm at MOBTS. Roundtable Provocation sessions should be prepared to explore topics and philosophical approaches at significant depths.
Manuscripts for Roundtable Discussion sessions should adhere to the 2000 word limit (excluding abstract, figures, tables, references, and appendices) and generally follow the structure outlined below.
- Introduction. Provide a brief introduction that establishes the purpose and focus of the discussion. Describe what the intended outcome of the session will be and who the target audience is.
- Theoretical Foundation/Implications. Establish the theoretical context of the discussion. While an extensive literature review is not entirely necessary, please do briefly specify the relevant background literature that underlies the discussion topic. How will this discussion lead to provocative discussion amongst attendees and strive to discuss and debate the issue at hand?
- Session Description. Provide an overview of what you will actually do in the MOBTS conference session. Include a timeline for the session and how participants will be involved. Remember, reviewers are looking for participant engagement in these sessions.
A Symposia / Panel session is an opportunity for colleagues to discuss with one another how to integrate a diverse set of ideas of the chosen topic, current issues being faced in the classroom, research, or academia in general, or any number of a broad range of topics and concepts. For example, a session organizer might bring together multiple colleagues to present a series of activities around a particular teaching topic (e.g. team formation) or management issue (e.g., conflict management). Or a session organizer might facilitate a discussion on a particular teaching topic. The purpose of the general discussion session is to allow participants to organize a collaboration of multiple presenters on a topic that will be of interest to participants.
Manuscripts for Symposia / Panel sessions should adhere to the 2000 word limit (excluding abstract, figures, tables, references, and appendices) and generally follow the structure outlined below.
- Introduction. Provide a brief introduction that establishes the purpose and focus of the Symposia / Panel. Describe what the intended outcome of the session will be and who the target audience is. What is the main topic of interest on which the authors will present?
- Theoretical Foundation/Teaching Implications. Establish the theoretical context for the topic of the symposium. While an extensive literature review is not in line with the MOBTS presentation style, do briefly specify the relevant background literature that underlies the session topic. How will this discussion contribute to effective teaching and learning in the field of management?
- Symposia / Panel Overview. Provide an overview of the topic. If the discussion is a panel discussion or debate, elaborate on what perspectives will be presented and how they relate to the topic of the discussion. If the discussion is a collection of activities/exercises, provide an overview of each activity and how it relates to the general topic of the symposium. The goal is to give the reviewer enough information so that they understand what the topic of the discussion is and how such a conversation will be facilitated.
- Session Description. Provide an overview of what you will actually do in the MOBTS conference session. Include a timeline for the session and how participants will be involved. Remember, reviewers are looking for participant engagement in these sessions.
A Professional Development Workshop (PDW) is an opportunity to assist in the advancement and development of your peers and doctoral candidates. PDWs can focus on efforts of sharing research and publishing insights, advancement into administration, work-life and/or career balance, AACSB and other accreditation assessment, curriculum development and design, job search and contract negotiation, and more. They can also include “train-the-trainer” exercises whereby training instruction is offered for how to facilitate experiential and other learning exercises.
Submissions for PDWs should adhere to the 2000 word limit (excluding abstract, references, appendices, etc.) and generally follow the structure outlined below.
- Introduction. Provide a brief introduction that establishes the purpose and focus of the PDW. Describe what the intended outcome of the session will be and who the target audience is. What is the main topic of interest on which the authors will engage in?
- Learning Objectives, Engagement, & Takeaway. Establish the what the learning objectives are from you, the presenter. How will you engage with your target audience to develop them toward these objectives? What is the desired takeaway by the audience at its conclusion?
- PDW Overview. Provide an overview of the topic. If the PDW is a consists of activities/exercises, provide an overview of each activity and how it relates to the general topic of the of PDW and the learning objectives. The goal is to give the reviewer of your submission enough information so that they understand what the topic of the PDW is and how the workshop will be constructed and executed.
Your submission file should include:
- Abstract
- Method: What you did in developing this case study (1 paragraph minimum)
- Findings: What you learned in developing this case study (1 paragraph minimum)
- Classroom Execution: How you utilized this in the classroom, what expectations you have in terms of discussion and learning outcomes (1 paragraph minimum)
- Session Discussion and Objectives: What objectives do you have in presenting, discussing, and/or performing this case study in an MOBTS session? (1 paragraph minimum)
- In which learning environment do you utilize this study (physical and/or virtual)? (1-2 sentences)
- Will you be conducting this case study with your attendees in this session? (1-2 sentences)
- References (as required)
- Authors are strongly encouraged to include the case study and the instructor’s manual (if applicable) in one single PDF file.