Message from Timothy Devinney, Chair, IM Division, Academy of Management 2007-2008 

 
I sincerely hope everyone is getting ready for another exciting conference this year.  It is a privilege to be reporting to the membership, particularly given the continued success of the division. 

Let me begin by making mention that our Program Chair, Anil Gupta, and PDW Chair, Sam Park have put together an exceptional program for us this year.  We will be having a number of the old favorites but I am sure some new and exciting things.  I would also like to take this opportunity to note the special work of the many committee chairs and members who put in the time to make the conference such a wonderful event for all of us.  Finally, a special thanks you to the nearly 800 members who served as reviewers, judges for awards, organizers of special events (e.g. consortia), and who helped carry out the many administrative functions of the division.

Since 2002, our membership has grown faster than that of the Academy as a whole. As of the end of March 2008 we have 2,814 members, making us the 5th largest division. Non-US members account for 44 percent of our membership (a slight increase) and we are most aligned with BPS, with whom we share about 1/3rd of our membership. 

Our finances are in perhaps the best shape they have been. We have renewed our sponsorship for the Eminent Scholar Award (Booz Allen Hamilton), the PDW reception (IMD-Lausanne), and the Doctoral and Junior Faculty Consortia (Northeastern U., Boston).  This year we have secured additional support for the best paper award from Samsung Corporation.  In addition, we have committed beginning this year to supporting up to 5 doctoral students with awards to be given for the most promising dissertation proposals at the consortium each year.  It is our goal to find new and innovative ways of working for and with our membership..... (Continued)