Working Together Towards a Better Digital Business and Society Research - A Review

Jointly organized by the Digital Organisation and Society (DOS) research centre at Royal Holloway, University of London, and the British Academy of Management's (BAM) E-Business and Information Systems Management Special Interest Group, our in-person ‘Working Together Towards a Better Digital Business and Society Research’ event was a resounding success, attracting a large number of attendees from both academia and industry.

An impressive lineup of keynote speakers featured at the consortium, including Professor Nancy Pouloudi, President of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) Council; Ved Sen, Head of Business Innovation for Tata Consultancy Services UK; and Dr. Lucy Gill-Simmen, Vice Dean for Education and Student Experience at Royal Holloway, University of London. These distinguished speakers provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in digital business and society research, innovative practices in organizations, and navigating a successful career in higher education.

The event also included two thought-provoking panel discussions. The first focused on publishing digital research in top journals and generating research impact, with panellists Professor Thanos Papadopoulos (British Journal of Management), Professor Suprateek Sarker (Information Systems Research), and Professor Giampaolo Viglia (Psychology and Marketing). The second panel, featuring Professor Savvas Papagiannidis, Dr. Mina Tajvidi, and Professor Sameer Hosany, explored strategies for managing a successful career in the digital domain.

Our consortium focused on five main tracks, showcasing the breadth and depth of research being conducted in the field of digital business and society:

1. Digital technologies in entrepreneurship and SMEs
2. Digitalization, consumer experience, and service research
3. Responsible AI and ethics of digital technology
4. AI and digital technologies in organizational studies
5. Digital transformation and technologies in sustainability and governance

Throughout the event, the atmosphere was engaging and positive, with delegates actively participating in discussions, sharing their research, and networking with colleagues. The consortium provided a supportive and collaborative environment that encouraged the exchange of ideas and fostered new connections. Many attendees expressed their appreciation for the well-organized event and the valuable insights gained from the keynote speeches, panel discussions, and research presentations. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from delegates highlighted the success of the consortium in bringing together researchers, practitioners, and students passionate about digital business and society research.

The consortium's success can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the organizing committee, led by Dr. Nisreen Ameen, Director of the DOS research centre at Royal Holloway and co-chair of the BAM E-Business and Information Systems Management SIG; and the Event Organizer Tippayanet Sorosrungruang, as well as Courtney Rada and Noor Allouzi, along with the BAM team; Professor Thanos Papadopoulos, chair of the BAM E-Business and Information Systems Management SIG, Conference and Communities Manager Lewis Johnson  and Communications and Events Coordinator Justin Brown.

We are proud to have provided a great platform for researchers, practitioners, and students to exchange ideas, forge collaborations, and work towards a better understanding of the digital landscape's impact on business and society.