3rd International Workshop on Organizational Legitimacy
The State of the Art in Legitimacy Research: Theory and Application
Idea Development Workshop & Expert Panel
To be held in person
emlyon business school
15-16 May, 2025
What are the Key Dates?
1
14 February 2025
Submission of an extended abstract of a research project (1,000 words)
2
14 March 2025
Notification of acceptance
3
14 April 2025
Submission of a final paper with research in progress (2,000-8,000 words)
4
15-16 May 2025
Organizational Legitimacy Workshop
Fast Facts about the Workshop
Who is This Workshop For?
The 3rd Annual Organizational Legitimacy Workshop (OLW) 2025 aims to support the development of research ideas to advance the study of legitimacy in management and organizational theory (https://legitimacy-research.org/). The workshop will feature expert panels, offer networking opportunities, and foster a cross-disciplinary research community dedicated to the study of legitimacy. We welcome submissions of original research and advanced study designs from scholars at various career stages, particularly early-career researchers.
How is the Workshop Structured?
This workshop is structured to help authors develop their research ideas through various formats:
- Expert presentations on organizational legitimacy
- Developmental roundtable discussions in small groups with experts
- Networking and social activities
How Can I Submit a Paper?
We invite submissions that present research in progress, experimental study design papers, and research proposals related to legitimacy (no published papers). Abstracts (1,000 words) should be submitted to legitimacylyon@gmail.com by 14 February, 2025. Participants will be selected on a competitive basis, based on the quality of their abstracts. No feedback will be provided.
What Happens if My Paper is Accepted?
Authors will be notified of acceptance by 14 March 2025 and invited to submit an extended abstract or final paper (2,000-8,000 words) by 14 April 2025. Papers significantly exceeding 8,000 words will be returned to the authors. Submissions at this stage can also include discussion questions to frame and advance the research idea.
Idea Development Workshop
The 3rd Annual Organizational Legitimacy Workshop at emlyon business school, Lyon, France builds on the legacy of the first two workshops: the inaugural event at the University of Lausanne in 2023 and the second workshop at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2024.
The theme of the workshop is “The State of the Art in Legitimacy Research: Theory and Application” within the field of management.
Organizers
- Sonia S. Siraz (emlyon business school, France) – website
- Björn Claes (The Open University Business School, UK)
Sponsors
- emlyon business school
- InvEnt Research Centre, emlyon
- Institute for Impactful Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I2E), emlyon
Participating Experts
- Alex Bitektine (Concordia University, Canada)
- Julio de Castro (IE Business School, Spain)
- Björn Claes (The Open University, United Kingdom)
- Jean Clarke (emlyon business school, Lyon, France)
- Patrick Haack (University of Lausanne, Switzerland)
- Laura Illia (University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
- Anna Jasinenko (University of St Gallen, Switzerland)
- Martin Sievert (University of Leiden, Netherlands)
- Sonia S. Siraz (emlyon business school, Lyon, France)
- Tijs van den Broek (VU Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Eero Vaara (University of Oxford, UK)
Key Components of the Workshop
- Keynote presentations by experts on theoretical developments, methodological advances, and publishing considerations in organizational legitimacy research.
- Developmental roundtable discussions: Participants will be grouped into small roundtables to discuss their research with peers and experts. These discussions will offer feedback and help participants refine their research projects.
- Networking and social activities: Opportunities to connect in a more informal setting, fostering community building within and between subfields of management and organizational studies.
The workshop will feature presentations and roundtable facilitation by international experts. Early-career scholars such as Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and tenure-track assistant professors are particularly encouraged to apply though scholars further along in their careers are also welcome to submit their work. The goal is to foster idea exchange, feedback, and networking opportunities.
Participation, Program, and Fees
The workshop will take place from 15-16 May 2025. There is no registration or participation fee for the workshop, and catering including the gala dinner will be offered. However, space is limited to 50 participants.
Application Process
Step 1: Submission of Extended Abstract
Submissions are competitive. Authors should submit an extended abstract of up to 1,000 words, excluding references, tables, and figures. The abstract should be submitted to legitimacylyon@gmail.com by 14 February 2025 at 23:59 CET.
Step 2: Submission of Final Paper
Acceptance notifications will be sent by 14 March 2025. Accepted authors must submit their final papers, including research in progress and discussion questions, by 14 April 2025. The final papers (2,000-8,000 words) should build upon the accepted abstract and may take the form of short working papers or more advanced research projects.
The event will be held at emlyon business school, France. The campus is conveniently located and easily accessible by public transportation.
About emlyon business school
Founded in 1872 by the Lyon Chamber of Commerce, emlyon business school has an enrollment of over 9,260 students of 130 nationalities across four campuses worldwide (Lyon, Shanghai, Paris, and Mumbai). The School relies on a Faculty of 170 internationally recognized professors and researchers, and a network of 222 global academic partners, to provide learning tracks of academic excellence open to the world. The school runs a community of 45,000 alumni spread over 130 countries. As a benefit corporation (société à mission) emlyon aims to “train and support informed leaders, throughout their lives, who are able to transform organizations efficiently for a fairer society and with greater solidarity and respect for the planet”. The School’s pedagogy closely links action and reflection. Skill hybridization and social responsibility are also at the heart of its training programs, where the best of both socioeconomic and academic worlds meet. The strategic plan, “Resonances 2028”, reaffirms the importance of the “maker spirit” that has been the DNA of emlyon since its creation. The plan is built around the five qualities expected of “makers”, emlyon students and alumni, to become entrepreneurs of change, namely: academic excellence; entrepreneurial spirit; engagement; hybrid knowledge; resonance with society.