Keynote Speakers

Prof. J. Alberto Aragon-Correa, University of Granada, Spain

J. Alberto Aragon-Correa is Professor of Management and the T-Systems – University of Granada Chair of Innovation in Digital Sustainability at the University of Granada (Spain). Furthermore, he is also the current Director of the Talent Incubator. Previously, Aragon-Correa was an Honorary Professor of Management and Professor of International Business at the University of Surrey (United Kingdom). He was also a guest visiting scholar at University of California, Los Angeles (USA), University of California, Berkeley (USA), and ETH Zurich (Switzerland).
Aragon-Correa's research examines firms’ business strategies, especially the connections between innovation, governance, and sustainability in multinational firms. Aragon-Correa's work have been published in many of the most prestigious journal in the field of management, such as Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Academy of Management Annals, Journal of International Business Studies, Academy of Management Perspectives, California Management Review, among others.
Aragon-Correa has been awarded with the Academy of Management «ONE Distinguished Scholar Award», a distinction designed to recognize scholars who have provided top inspirational academic leadership. His research has gained recognition, featuring in the “List of Top Two Percent Scientists in the World” published by Prof. Ioannidis (Stanford University) and colleagues. As of May 2024, his works have received more than 14400 citations (h-index=41) according to Google Scholar.
He is the incoming Editor in Chief of the Business Research Quarterly (BRQ), the journal of the Spanish Academy of Management (ACEDE). Furthermore, he currently holds the position of Co-Editor for the Cambridge University Press book series titled ″Organizations and the Natural Environment”. Aragon-Correa also serves as a Consulting Editor for Organization & Environment, a journal focusing on sustainability and management published by SAGE Publishing.

Topic: Evolving Metrics: From Traditional Assessments to Big Data Analytics in Measuring Firm Environmental Performance

Abstract: Sustainability is crucial for ensuring the long-term health of our planet, and management research on sustainability has grown exponentially in the last decade. In the dynamic landscape of business sustainability, the methods used to evaluate environmental strategies and performance within firms have significantly evolved. This keynote presentation will delve into the historical trajectory of these measurement systems, critically examining the strengths and limitations of both traditional and contemporary approaches. We will explore the transition from anecdotal assessments to more sophisticated, quantitative methods that leverage advancements in big data analytics.
Our discussion will highlight the pressing need for emergent approaches that harness big data to provide more accurate insights into the actual environmental impact of firms. Additionally, we will describe an initiative designed by the speaker and his academic team, the TERAIN database. This innovative platform integrates comprehensive analytics from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (EPRTR) and its counterpart in the USA, offering a robust tool for scholars, practitioners, and investors.
Attendees will gain a vivid understanding of how appropriate methodological approaches can improve the measurement of environmental performance in the context of firms.

 

Prof. Lin Xiu, University of Minnesota – Duluth, USA

Dr. Lin Xiu received her PhD in Industrial Relations and Human Resources from the University of Toronto in 2010. Currently, she holds a professorship within the Department of Management Studies at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Her research encompasses a range of subjects including labor market dynamics, HR analytics, compensation frameworks, as well as the nexus between leadership and employee well-being. Dr. Xiu has made significant scholarly contributions to her field, evidenced by the recognition of her work in prominent journals such as the British Journal of Industrial Relations, the Journal of Total Rewards, the International Journal of Manpower, the Leadership & Organization Development Journal, the Journal of Economic Psychology, and Personnel Review. Her academic impact extends to leading special issues, evaluating substantial research funding applications, and managing multiple research grants. Through her consultancy efforts, Dr. Xiu has exerted a notable influence on organizational practices (e.g., wellness programs) and labor market policy development (e.g. Paid Family and Medical Leave policies). She currently serves as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Manpower (IJM).

Topic:  The Impact of AI on Talent Management

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) introduces a transformative shift in the nature of work. This study explores this shift through a holistic framework that moves beyond traditional views of automation, revealing AI’s extensive influence on the facets of work design, conduct, and measurement. AI fundamentally reconceptualizes the very essence of work, necessitating a paradigmatic shift in work design methodologies that underscore flexibility, adaptability, and innovative problem-solving. Through the development and deployment of HR Analytics and Talent Intelligence, organizations attain unprecedented granularity in understanding workforce dynamics, thereby revolutionizing recruitment processes and talent management strategies. Concurrently, labor platforms emerge as pivotal conduits for the provisioning of work, reshaping the contours of work execution. With AI’s ascendancy, conventional performance metrics undergo a metamorphic evolution, compelling a reassessment of entrenched notions of productivity and efficiency. Ethical considerations loom large in this landscape, prompting a critical examination of AI’s impacts on workforce dynamics, privacy, and fairness. By understanding these issues, organizations can make better decisions about how to use AI to improve work processes, drive innovation, and ensure fairness and inclusivity for all.

 

Prof. Xu Chen, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China

Dr. Xu Chen is Professor of operations and supply chain management at School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. His current research interests include coopetition management, supply chain management, and operations management. His publications have appeared in Production and Operations Management, IISE Transactions, IIE Transactions, European Journal of Operational Research, OMEGA-International Journal of Management Science, Journal of Business Research, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, IEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics: Systems, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Annals of Operations Research, and other journals. His research has been supported by grants from the National Sciences Foundation of China (NSFC), Major Program of National Social Science Foundation of China (NSSFC), and National Key R&D Program of China.

 

Topic: Supply chain management with blockchain

Abstract: Applications of blockchain in supply chain management (SCM) have received extensive attention among academics and industrial practitioners. Most current blockchain-related review papers focus on the values, methodologies, barriers, trends, and challenges of blockchain applications in the supply chain (SC) context. Despite some papers discussing blockchain’s role in SCs from a specific perspective, the existing review papers mainly concentrate on blockchain’s influence on one of the three critical SC flows. Hence, this study comprehensively reviews 251 academic papers to capture the precise impacts of blockchain on the material, information, and money flows in SCM. Following the above analyses, a conceptual framework is put forward to accentuate blockchain’s influence on SCM. By unveiling a comprehensive research landscape, this study offers valuable viewpoints and vital information for scholars and practitioners to better identify research frontiers and themes of blockchain applications in SCM.