August 2025

Notice of the 2026 Annual Conference of the Academic Association for Organizational Science

 

We are pleased to announce that the 2026 Annual Conference of the Academic Association for Organizational Science will be held as follows. We sincerely hope that all members will join us for this event.

Date: September 20 (Sat) and 21 (Sun), 2025

Venue: Aoyama Gakuin University, Aoyama Campus 

Theme: “The VUCA Era and the Potential of Organizations—Time, Space, and Mode”

The 2026 Annual Conference of the Academic Association for Organizational Science will be held on September 20 and 21, 2025, at Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Campus).The unified theme of the conference is “The VUCA Era and the Potential of Organizations: Time, Space, and Mode.” This theme is not intended to limit the academic topics or research fields of the various sessions, but rather to propose a direction for consideration by all participants as the overarching theme of the conference. It will serve as a forum for presentations and discussions on a broad range of organizational and strategic research.

How can the theories, concepts, and paradigms accumulated over more than 100 years in the field of organizational theory be applied in the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) era, characterized by digitalization and globalization?How can the knowledge and wisdom accumulated in organizational theory during the analog era be restructured, reconfigured, and developed in new ways in a situation where digitalization is advancing and working in remote work, coworking spaces, and innovation hubs has become the norm?

Given the potential for various theoretical and empirical approaches, how can we combine face-to-face and digital modes, leverage generative AI and IoT technologies, and reconfigure strategic organizational management? We look forward to exploring these issues with you in depth. Based on the above issues, we have prepared sessions with diverse sub-themes and formats to meet the various needs of our participants.

The content is wide-ranging and includes a keynote speech by Prof. Heather Haveman (University of California, Berkeley), a management lecture by Mr. Toshiyuki Takahashi, Executive Officer and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Tokyu Corporation, a discussion between up-and-coming startup executives, academic panel discussions, research sessions with practitioners and experts from various fields, as well as sessions organized by the conference committee for young researchers,a 60th anniversary program for “Organization Science,” and 12 research presentation sessions in English organized by the International Committee. The event will be held over two days in both Japanese and English.

Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Campus) is located in Aoyama, Tokyo, a cultural hub.It is close to Shibuya, a hub for startups, ICT, and youth culture; Omotesando, lined with top-end fashion brands; Harajuku, the birthplace of street fashion; Ebisu and Daikanyama, where many creators gather; and Roppongi and Toranomon, which serve as cutting-edge business hubs. The area offers a glimpse into the dynamism and vitality of modern Japan.Access is convenient, with the nearest station being Shibuya, a major transportation hub served by JR, Tokyo Metro, subway, and bus lines, just a 10-minute walk away. Omotesando Station, also accessible by multiple subway and local train lines, is just a 5-minute walk from the campus. For those traveling from distant locations, high-speed buses to Shibuya are also available. For lunch and dinner, there are numerous restaurants in the surrounding area, where you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the city.

This event is being organized with the support of the Executive Board of the Academic Society, the Conference Committee, the International Committee, and many other members of the society. It is being hosted by the Graduate School of International Management (Aoyama Business School) and the Faculty of Business Administration at Aoyama Gakuin University. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus, where you can experience the trendy vibe of Tokyo firsthand. We sincerely hope that many members will join us for this event.

 

2026 Annual Conference of the Academic Association for Organizational Science
Executive Committee Chair: Tsutomu Nakano, Aoyama Gakuin University
Secretary General: Masaru Yamashita, Aoyama Gakuin University
All members of the Executive Committee