Conference Theme

"Globalizing Indian Thought" is the pillar of the vision of the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode.

The phrase acknowledges the difference of Indian thought from the Western paradigm generally used in the management science education and research. It is important to scientifically diagnose the difference between the Indian culture and the western culture. A scientific diagnosis shall enable us towards a framework that can be used to understand the unique features of the Indian culture and Indian thought.

The work ethics and communication vary from one culture to another culture. Differences in communication styles can cause cultural barriers, leading to a less harmonious workplace and loss of production. Given the cross-cultural nature of the management firms today, a range of issues like decision making, motivating employees, human relations, organizational development to communication are affected cultural differences. What was earlier thought as simple psychological, biological and sociological differences among individuals, today has been characterized as the difference that emanates out of culture. This is much important now than ever before as multi-national companies are more and more prevalent in India employing Indian population.

Development of management system also requires a deep understanding of culture. While ” best practices” are emulated all over the world, culture has a huge role in shaping the management systems. A strong organizational culture is an essential ingredient of success in international firms. A comparative understanding of culture with a suitable framework may be crucial to developing a strong culture. Social institution is another crucial area of management whose formation and dynamics requires understanding of the culture.

S. N. Balagangadhara has offered a seminal theory on culture and cultural difference that is falsifiable and testable. Under this theory, Balagangadhara discussed the difference on learning and more significantly on meta-learning (the generic way to learn; learning to learn in a culture) across cultures. In the west, the knowledge is sayable (talking about). Any knowledge has to be sayable for being recognized as knowledge. The learning in the western culture is theoretical, in the sense it requires a preconceived conception of order, which is descriptive. Indian culture, on the other hand, is not a theoretically driven culture but a “ritual”-based culture. In this culture, learning happens through the social environment.

Call For Papers

IIM Kozhikode, the leading business school in India is organizing an international conference on the theme “Society and Management: Indian Culture vis-à-vis Western Culture.” We invite original research articles that are theoretically rigorous and/or empirically grounded on this theme. Articles of conceptual, analytical or empirical nature, which develop or extend theory or contribute to better practice, are welcome. We are open to different methods of research including (but not limited to) field experiment, case study, survey and ethnography.

Extended abstract (between 1,000-1,500 words) may be submitted instead of the full paper.

Publication Opportunities

Excellent full papers accepted in the review process will be fast tracked for publication in a special issue of the prestigious journal of IIMK Society and Management Review (Sage Publication; rated "2" by Association of Business Schools).

Workshop

This comparative science of cultures provides huge opportunity to management researchers, particularly ones from India. There is, however, a marked absence of understanding of this theme which may be inculcated among the researchers. Therefore, a one-day workshop will be organized on the topic Comparative Science of Cultures and its Implications on management during the conference. A prominent researcher from the Comparative Science of Cultures and a person with experience in management teaching will jointly teach in the workshop.

The workshop will tentatively be conducted by Prof. Jakob de Roover (Ghent University) and M. S. Chaitra (Aarohi Foundation)

Registration Charges

Please add Goods and Services Tax (GST) @18% on the above registration fees.

Click Here --> Paper Submission & Registration

Early-Bird registration will attract a INR 1,000/- or $50 discount for the participant as is the case may be.

Please Note that

1. The registration fee includes the conference kit, hand outs, morning and evening tea, and working lunch during the days of the conference. It does not include accommodation and travel.
2. The registration fee applies to each delegate whether presenting a paper, attending the conference as listener or whether or not attending the workshop.
3. The fee is to be paid online or by Demand Draft in favour of Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode payable at Kozhikode along with duly filled-in registration form.
4. Please note that payments to IIM Kozhikode are exempted from deduction of tax vide certificate no. AAAAJ1012Q/ACIT/C-2(1)/KKD/2006-07/1 dated 15 May 2006 issued by Jt. Commissioner of Income Tax, Division II, Calicut.

Hospitality

Limited accommodation is available at the MDP Guest House at IIMK campus on payment basis at Rs. 2,100/- (+18% GST) per day per person inclusive of food (shared occupancy). Single occupancy Charges would be Rs.3,000/- (+18% GST) per day per person inclusive of food.
Those desirous of availing the facility may contact the organisers at cultureconf@iimk.ac.in. The necessary amount may be remitted only after confirmation. In case you want to stay outside, the phone numbers of some of the prominent hotels of Calicut are given below.

Hotel Taj Residency: +91 495 2765354

Hotel Malabar Palace: +91 495 2721515

Hotel Fortune: +91 495 2768888

Hotel Hyson Heritage: +91 495 2766423