Institutions and Global Economic Governance

• Gravitation of world economy towards the East & South & the rise of emerging markets 

• WTO & international trade; implications of new regional trade arrangements (e.g., TPP and TTIP)

• Challenges of institutional governance (IMF, World Bank, etc.); new initiatives (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank (NDB/BRICS Bank)

• Impact of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on subsistence markets 

• Challenges of urbanization, inequalities, health, food & energy security, natural disasters, cyber threats, climate change, migration of workforce, etc.

Global Connectivity, Knowledge Clusters, & Entrepreneurship

• Knowledge clusters, innovation & diffusion effects in local, regional & global contexts

• Impact of social & technology networks on Micro, Small & Medium enterprises

• Role of networks & diaspora: women entrepreneurship; social & digital entrepreneurship

• Business models to nurture start-ups: incubation, mentoring, venture capital, crowd funding, etc.

Innovation in Education, Human Capital & Advancement of Skills

• Quality & standards; impact of ranking of academic institutions; business-academic partnerships 

• Role of higher education clusters; Open Universities; Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCsP)

• Corporate universities; models of executive education & training for professions/occupations

• Learning outcomes: study abroad, internships & community engagement programs

​Emerging Markets, Global Connectivity & Competitive Strategy

• New paradigms of innovation & business models in emerging markets

• Leveraging resources & capabilities by firms from emerging markets 

• Modes of entry & internationalization strategies of emerging market firms 

• Competitive dynamics between western and emerging market multinationals

Management Practices, OB & HRM in a Global Context

• Workplace diversity, automation, labor relations, productivity, & wage differentials

• The millennials, intergenerational & flexible workforce

• Managing intellectual capital, virtual organizations & teams in multi-cultural contexts

• State-owned enterprises; family controlled conglomerates; family owned enterprises 

• Supply chain management: on-shoring & off-shoring; national & regional pressures

Global Finance, Accounting, & Transparency Issues

• Corporate finance, banking, capital markets, sovereign wealth funds, & global debt 

• FDI & M&As; volatility of exchange rates & risk management

• Role of corporate taxation, tax havens, subsidies & free trade zones 

• Financing subsistence markets, social impact investing

• Accounting; IFRS reporting standards, business information value chain; XBRL 

• Valuation of intangibles, intellectual property, brand equity, and goodwill

Marketing & Communication in a Connected Environment

• Value creation: service delivery models, customer life time value, & relationship marketing

• Emerging trends: data driven, social media and Internet-based, cause-related, and green marketing; e-market places: web marketing and e-commerce

• Services marketing; social marketing; and macro marketing theory & practice

Sustainability & Growth: CSR Perspectives in a Global Context

• Challenges of decoupling growth from natural resources to a knowledge-based economy

• Corporate & institutional response to climate change, water, food & energy security issues 

• Philanthropy, social enterprises, and NGOs, & its impact on subsistence markets

• Challenges of urbanization, pollution, & infrastructure; community & individual responsibilities

• Ethical Challenges: CSR, Social impact & measurement issues