CALL FOR PAPERS
THE 4TH COMPETITIVE DYNAMICS CONFERENCE
July 27-28, 2026
Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Theme: "Competitive Dynamics in Transition"
Organizing Committee: Ming-Jer Chen, Yo-Jud Cheng, Skyler Clark-Hamel, and Young Hou (conference contact: HouY@darden.virginia.edu)
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Conference Overview
In an increasingly fragmented and disrupted world, competition is not confined by boundaries or defined by rivals. The 4th Competitive Dynamics Conference (CD-4) invites scholars (and practitioners) to reexamine the foundations and frontiers of dynamic competition-a perspective that views strategy as an ongoing process of action and reaction among opponents.
This year's theme, "Competitive Dynamics in Transition," captures the spirit of a world in flux-technologically, geopolitically, and institutionally-and challenges us to rethink how firms and leaders compete, cooperate, and coexist in a state of constant, and quick, change.
In that spirit, the conference will provide an opportunity for management scholars interested in rivalry of all kinds and across different contexts-including technological, AI-driven, interpersonal, and geopolitical competition-to share their work. The forum will foster in-depth discussions through formal paper presentations, panel discussions, poster sessions, and opportunities for informal conversations.
Submission Guidelines
We invite submissions in the following formats:
- Full papers (not yet accepted for publication)
- Extended abstracts (maximum 1,000 words)
Please submit your paper or abstract at the following submission link.
The submission deadline is February 15, 2026. Authors will be notified of acceptance decisions by April 1, 2026. All submissions will be considered for conference awards.
We welcome submissions from various research perspectives and methodologies related (but not limited) to the following themes:
- Rethinking Competitive Dynamics in the Age of AI
- Competitive Dynamics in a Divided and Polarized World
- Emerging Sub-fields in Competitive Dynamics
- Intellectual Boundaries and the Scope of Competitive Dynamics
- Impacts of Market and Non-market Interplay on Competitive Dynamics
- The Intersection of Competitive Dynamics and Other Strategy Sub-fields
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Additional Details
The CD-4 conference continues a tradition of rotating among leading business schools, and this year will be held in the United States for the first time. The conference takes a broad, inclusive perspective of competitive dynamics to encourage work that expands the intellectual boundaries of the field and embraces diverse viewpoints. Its aim is to generate high-quality scholarly output while engendering an engaged, collaborative community that will continue to grow and evolve beyond the event itself.
Hosted at the University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, CD-4 will offer a welcoming and collegial environment encouraging both scholarly exchange and informal interaction. All registered participants will find a variety of opportunities to explore the area's natural beauty and vibrant cultural offerings during their stay, and enjoy program amenities, including all meals.
Further information regarding the conference program, logistics, and registration will be available soon on the conference website.
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Yo-Jud Cheng
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
University of Virginia
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