SIG DITE PDW - 2026
Host Schools
Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
Ivey Business School, Western University
DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
Date and Location:
Smith School of Business, Queen’s University (Toronto Campus)
Simcoe Place, 200 Front Street, 30th Floor.
Day 1: Wednesday August 5, 2026
• 2:00pm – Arrival and Welcome
• 3:00pm – Keynote speaker
• 4:00pm – Welcome Social
Day 2: Thursday August 6, 2026
• 8:30am – Arrival and Light Breakfast
• 9:00am – Keynote Speaker
• 10:15am – Roundtable Discussions of Papers: Part 1
• 12:00pm – Lunch
• 1:00pm – Keynote Speaker
• 2:15pm - Roundtable Discussions of Papers: Part 2
• 3:45pm – Closing Panel Discussion
• 4:30pm – Depart
Paper Development Workshop (PDW) workshop participants are welcome to attend Day 2 only
if they prefer.
Motivation:
Digital technology continues to change the landscape of innovation, organizational change, and
entrepreneurship. Be it in terms of how organizations create and capture value, novel
organizational forms and business models such as digital platform and innovation ecosystems,
innovation, or strategy, digital technology has permeated virtually every aspect of today’s
organizations. Despite its widespread adoption, embracing digital technology continues to
present organizations with crucial strategic and operational questions. The AIS special interest
group on digital innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship (SIG DITE) in collaboration
with Queen’s University, McMaster University, and Western University are organizing a paper
development workshop to promote research on the various ways in which digital technology
impacts these areas.
Workshop Format:
The workshop will bring together leading faculty in the fields of digital innovation, digital
transformation, and digital entrepreneurship. It is primarily aimed at early career researchers
(late-stage Ph.D. students, Post Docs, pre-tenure faculty) but also welcomes established senior
scholars who can develop their ongoing research into papers within a friendly and collegial
environment. The workshop consists of two crucial components:
First, workshop participants will engage in round-table discussions of the submitted papers.
Groups of up to five participants, who are at a similar stage in their research projects and share
common research interests, will convene for small-group discussions. Each group discussion will
be led by one or two mentors with extensive experience in conducting and publishing studies
related to digital innovation, transformation, and entrepreneurship, as well as substantial
experience in reviewing, editing, and mentoring.
Second, the workshop will feature several thought-provoking keynotes and a panel discussion to
enhance the experience of workshop participants.
Potential Topics
Submissions addressing the thematic focus of SIG DITE are welcome, regardless of
methodological approach, theory, or data. Novel methods to explore DITE topics, such as
qualitative case studies and ethnographies, computational analysis techniques, analytical
models and agent-based simulations, design science, and experimental approaches are
especially welcome. Possible topics for papers include, but are not limited to:
▪ The development and management of digital technology, such as artificial intelligence,
blockchain, Internet of Things, and other emerging technologies, from a socio-technical
perspective as well as the challenges faced by organizations in using and implementing
these digital technologies into processes and organizational structures.
▪ The design and creation of digital innovations, i.e., the development of new products,
services, and business models through the use of digital technology, within organizations,
platforms, and ecosystems. Possible examples include collaborative and distributed
innovation and search processes.
▪ Digital transformation and the resulting fundamental changes in organizational
structures, roles, management, culture, skills, and governance, leading to novel
organizational forms (e.g., as innovation ecosystems) and strategies (e.g., adaptation and
disruption)
▪ Topics surrounding digital entrepreneurship, such as value creation in entrepreneurial
initiatives and new venture development in a digital environment.
Submission Details and Timeline:
The selection of papers will be based on an extended abstract of up to 3,000 words (excl.
references). The submitted abstract will be reviewed by the organizers and decisions about
acceptance will be communicated swiftly. Authors of accepted papers agree to perform up to
three short peer reviews of other participants’ papers. The workshop neither requires copyright
transfer nor publishes proceedings. The extended abstract should include
▪ A title,
▪ Up to five keywords,
▪ An extended introduction including a short theoretical part,
▪ The status of the data collection and current project phase,
▪ A summary of the (preliminary) findings and potential contributions, and
▪ Two concrete questions for the workshop and round table discussions that you would
like to receive feedback on.
Please send submissions in docx or pdf file format and any questions to sigditepdw@gmail.com.
Please indicate your and your co-authors’ names, affiliations, and if the attending author/s is/are
PhD students or faculty members.
Key dates
▪ Submissions of extended abstracts: April 30, 2026
▪ Notification of acceptance: May 15, 2026
▪ Full paper submissions due: June 30, 2026
▪ Peer reviews due: July 20, 2026
▪ Workshop kick-off and welcome reception: August 5, 2026
▪ Keynotes, panel, and roundtable discussions: August 6, 2026
We are looking forward to your submissions and welcoming you to Toronto!
Kathryn Brohman, Isam Faik, and Milena Head