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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN
NAME:ABRI Lunch Seminar Paolo Aversa
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20260417T120000
DTEND:20260417T130000
DTSTAMP:20260417T120000
UID:2026/ABRI Lunch Seminar Paolo @8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573
CREATED:20260517T123533
LOCATION:HG-10A28 Main Building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam
SUMMARY:ABRI Lunch Seminar Paolo Aversa
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html: We are happy to invite
you to the ABRI Lunch Seminar "Before and beyond AI: Investigating di
gital phenomena to advance management research" by Prof. Paolo Aversa
(King's Business School, King's College London, UK) organized by ABR
I and the M&O Department.
The seminar will take place on Frida
y, April 17th, from 12:00 to 13:00 (HG-10A28). You can find more info
rmation below.
This is a lunch seminar; please register your
attendance by accepting/declining your emailed invitation by Monday,
April 13th at the latest (for catering).
Abstract
Digital technologies—most prominently artificial intellig
ence (AI)—have triggered an unprecedented surge of interest in mana
gement research. Yet, while submissions on digital phenomena have sky
rocketed, many fail to clear the editorial desk of leading journals d
ue to a limited theoretical contribution. This editorial addresses a
central question: how can the study of digital technologies advance m
anagement theory rather than merely describe novel empirical contexts
? We distinguish between theory about digital—conceptualizations ti
ghtly anchored in digital-specific phenomena such as platforms, ecosy
stems, or remote work—and theory from digital, which leverages digi
tal settings to revisit and extend broader theories of innovation, su
stainability, leadership, and organization. Building on established p
rinciples of theorizing, we argue that strong contributions stem not
from techno-centrism but from using digital phenomena as lenses to re
fine enduring theoretical conversations. To guide scholars, we propos
e four “golden tests” for structuring contributions: novelty, gen
eralizability, robustness, and usefulness (descriptive, prescriptive,
and normative). We then outline promising avenues for theorizing fro
m digital in the domains of innovation, sustainability, and leadershi
p. Ultimately, we advocate a mindset that views digital technologies
not as ends in themselves, but as catalysts for theoretical advanceme
nt that remains valuable before AI, engages meaningfully with AI, and
endures beyond it.
DESCRIPTION: The seminar will take place on Friday, April 17th, from 1
2:00 to 13:00 (HG-10A28). You can find more information below.
This is a lunch seminar; please register your attendance by accepti
ng/declining your emailed invitation by Monday, April 13th at the lat
est (for catering).
Abstract
Digital tec
hnologies—most prominently artificial intelligence (AI)—have trig
gered an unprecedented surge of interest in management research. Yet,
while submissions on digital phenomena have skyrocketed, many fail t
o clear the editorial desk of leading journals due to a limited theor
etical contribution. This editorial addresses a central question: how
can the study of digital technologies advance management theory rath
er than merely describe novel empirical contexts? We distinguish betw
een theory about digital—conceptualizations tightly anchored in dig
ital-specific phenomena such as platforms, ecosystems, or remote work
—and theory from digital, which leverages digital settings to revis
it and extend broader theories of innovation, sustainability, leaders
hip, and organization. Building on established principles of theorizi
ng, we argue that strong contributions stem not from techno-centrism
but from using digital phenomena as lenses to refine enduring theoret
ical conversations. To guide scholars, we propose four “golden test
s” for structuring contributions: novelty, generalizability, robust
ness, and usefulness (descriptive, prescriptive, and normative). We t
hen outline promising avenues for theorizing from digital in the doma
ins of innovation, sustainability, and leadership. Ultimately, we adv
ocate a mindset that views digital technologies not as ends in themse
lves, but as catalysts for theoretical advancement that remains valua
ble before AI, engages meaningfully with AI, and endures beyond it. W
e are happy to invite you to the ABRI Lunch Seminar "Before and beyon
d AI: Investigating digital phenomena to advance management research"
by Prof. Paolo Aversa (King's Business School, King's College London
, UK) organized by ABRI and the M&O Department.
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