Twenty early-career researchers in Organizational Science and Information Systems—from the US, UK, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, Luxembourg, Finland, Spain, Norway, Denmark, and France—joined the 13th edition of the KIN Summer School.
In her welcome, Marleen Huysman, head of the AI@Work research group, set the tone for the lively academic exchange by diving straight into the tricky questions: Can AI have its own agency? And what does that mean for how we understand agency and delegation? Over the course of three days, the invited faculty members shared the research topics they’re currently passionate about and passed on the wisdom of experienced scholars — offering valuable advice on building an academic career.
This year’s invited faculty included:
- Paul Leonardi (University of California, Santa Barbara), who explored Agency and Delegation in the context of digital technologies;
- Luciana d'Adderio (University of Edinburgh), who examined how Algorithms Shape Organizing;
- Jan Recker (University of Hamburg), who reflected on the Physical, Bodily, Environmental, and Ethical Boundaries of Digital Innovation;
- Jorgen Sandberg (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), who delivered the keynote on Generating Impactful Research: The Art of Constructing Phenomena and Developing Theory.
Participants presented their own work during paper development sessions in small groups, each led by a faculty member. This session offered space for in-depth discussion and constructive feedback—a chance to sharpen arguments, rethink assumptions, and learn the craft of reviewing academic work.
A research panel session, held outdoors for a change of scenery and inspiration, allowed participants to delve deeper into contemporary debates around knowledge, information technologies, and innovation in organizational contexts. The focus was on understanding what makes academic research impactful and rigorous.
Beyond the academic program, the KIN Summer School provided invaluable opportunities for networking and informal mentorship. Late-stage PhD students and postdocs were able to build connections, reflect on their career paths, and strengthen their ability to integrate diverse perspectives and methods in their work.
The KIN Summer School is organized by the KIN Center for Digital Innovation of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam together with the Amsterdam Business Research Institute (ABRI). The information about the 14th edition of the KIN Summer School will follow soon.
