Deadline Approaching! Historical Research in Management
Call for Papers for Management and Business History SIG Track at the British Academy of Management Conference 2026
Royal Holloway, University of London, from 7–11 September 2026
This track invites submissions that not only make a clear, historically grounded contribution to business and management research, but we are particularly interested in work that uses history as a method of explanation, rather than as background or illustration, and that speaks directly to contemporary debates around impact, innovation, and inclusion.
In line with recent reflections on the field, we welcome three broad types of contribution:
Empirical papers
Historically grounded studies based on original or under-used sources (including archival, oral, visual, or material sources). We particularly encourage research on under-represented regions, industries, actors, and time periods, including work beyond Europe and North America.
Historiographical papers
Contributions that engage critically with existing debates in business history and related fields. This includes work that revisits established interpretations, challenges dominant narratives, or develops new conceptual frameworks for understanding historical business phenomena.
Theoretical papers
Submissions that use historical research to develop, refine, or challenge theory in management, organisation studies, economics, or related social sciences. Such papers should be explicit about the nature of their theoretical contribution and demonstrate why historical analysis is essential to the argument.
Across all submission types, we particularly welcome work that:
Engages seriously with theory while remaining historically contextualised
Demonstrates how historical research informs present-day organisational challenges
Addresses questions of power, ethics, inequality, diversity, and inclusion in historical perspective
Bridges disciplinary boundaries within the social sciences
We welcome papers and professional development workshops, including cross-track and interdisciplinary submissions. While engagement with the overall conference theme is encouraged, submissions must have a substantial historical dimension at their core.
📌 Key dates to note:
27 February 2026 (23:59 GMT) – Paper submissions close
24 April 2026 – PDW submissions close
Stuck on what to submit? Read the following article as a great reference point for your contribution:
Decker, S., Lubinski, C., MacKenzie, N. G., & Felton, N. (2024). Taking stock and moving forward: What makes a contribution in business history? Business History, 66(8), 1923-1938.
BAM accepts two types of papers:
Full papers, 5,000-7,000 words (excluding tables and references)
Developmental papers, 1,000-2,000 words (excluding tables and references)
For further information or queries, please contact Nicholas Wong at Nicholas.d.wong@northumbria.ac.uk and Anna Spadavecchia at Anna.spadavecchia@strath.ac.uk