The Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2024, held in Chicago, positioned management history as a critical lens for understanding innovation, policy, and organizational purpose in an era of rapid technological change.
Under the theme “Innovating for the Future: Policy, Purpose, and Organizations”, the Management History Division invited scholars to reflect on how past transformations—from industrialization to the rise of scientific management—can inform present debates on AI, automation, and the future of work. The program emphasized that today’s information age rivals earlier economic revolutions in scope and disruption, making historical insight essential for reducing uncertainty and guiding responsible organizational action.
Across the scholarly program, contributions examined the historical evolution of innovation, lessons from past successes and failures, and the long-standing interplay between policy and organizational purpose. Sessions explored how managerial thought has repeatedly adapted to societal needs and technological shifts, offering parallels for contemporary challenges such as platform work, algorithmic management, and ethical AI deployment.
The Chicago meeting also highlighted the Division’s inclusive and multi-theoretical orientation. Submissions drew from diverse disciplines and methodologies, with Professional Development Workshops providing space for developmental dialogue and experimentation beyond conventional research templates.
In addition to paper and symposium sessions, the conference marked key moments in divisional life. The Management History Division recognized outstanding scholarship through its annual awards, celebrated exemplary reviewing, and reinforced the importance of community service through its call for reviewers.
