MELT PARADIGM AND DOMAIN INFORMATION

The MELT Paradigm | Domain Information | Management Domain
Education Domain | Leadership Domain | Technology Domain

THE MELT PARADIGM

DOMAIN INFORMATION

Below is a brief description of the types of submissions the AoM/IAoM is seeking for its annual conference. Each of the MELT components has a two-fold structure consisting of sub domains, which are meant to be suggestive rather than definitive or exclusive.

MANAGEMENT DOMAIN

In this domain, the AoM/IAoM is seeking submissions which fall within the traditional functional domains of management including marketing, finance, accounting, economics, operations management, human resource management, strategic management and international business. In addition, submissions originating from specialty areas such as entrepreneurship, management consulting or corporate social responsibility are welcome. At the macro level, submissions addressing emergent organizational forms, organizational structure, climate and culture, ethics, and organizational change and development are examples of topical areas appropriate for this domain. In both of these sub domains, managers are confronted with a range of issues and challenges of global significance and local importance that lend themselves for a lively scholar-practitioner exchange.

EDUCATION DOMAIN

Higher education is at a crossroad. The population in developed countries is more educated than any previous generation. The demand for higher education and innovative pedagogies is higher than before and an ever-increasing range of service providers has created a highly competitive marketplace for institutions of higher learning. Public insistence on accountability drives universities and colleges to pay more attention to their teaching practices and commitments – despite countervailing pressures for greater emphasis on research. Curriculum design and development, evaluation of higher education programs, distance education, and accreditation are some of the topics that fall within the domain of higher education. The AoM/IAoM is also seeking submissions from the corporate sector. Many private sector organizations are maintaining corporate universities to deliver educational programs that are more specific to the acquisition of job skills that are valued in the culture of the organization.

LEADERSHIP DOMAIN

The leadership domain is divided into two broad categories: leadership theories and leadership practices. The relevance of many traditional leadership theories including trait, behavior and contingency theories has been questioned since these theories have been formulated decades ago when organizations were significantly different from their contemporary counterparts. Transactional/Transformational leadership has been the poster child of leadership theories for more than 20 years and it is being challenged. A number of new theoretical perspectives are discussed in the literature including authentic, spiritual, servant and chaos/complexity theories, stewardship and follower-centric approaches to leadership. Critical assessments of these theories, comparative analysis, and other forms of ‘new’ leadership as well as applications of theory to the practice of leadership represent contributions, which are relevant for this domain. In the area of leadership practice, leadership development, teambuilding, cross-cultural analyses of leadership practices are topical examples the AoM/IAoM invites for submissions.

TECHNOLOGY DOMAIN

Fast-paced technological innovations, the 24/7/365 workplace, proliferation of knowledge workers and speed with which information travels are impacting organizations of all sizes. Technological change is the one constant in many organizations. Database design and analysis, information resources management, groupware and executive support systems, telecommunications, end user support and developing the next generation of systems professionals are topics that fall into the realm of the Information and telecommunications sub domain. Submissions dealing with Internet and World Wide Web technologies, artificial intelligence, neural networks, voice synthesis, and video conferencing are solicited for the Internet and Related Technologies sub domains. The four domains, management, education, leadership, and technology are interdependent. They co-evolve in the context of political, social, and economic systems and are more and more structured around mutual dependencies and reciprocity as one system informs the other. Management and technology have always been intertwined as manual management processes and procedures have been replaced by technology. Education and technology are becoming increasingly interconnected as, for example, evidenced by the rapid proliferation of distance education programs. The role of leadership in each of these domains is critical. Changes in any one of these areas will be invariably responded to by reactive or proactive developments in the other fields that must ensure, enhance and sustain their viability.