On March 7, scholars from six universities gathered at the UC Riverside School of Business for the annual Management Research Camp, an event dedicated to exploring cutting-edge research in management and organizational behavior. This collaborative forum created space for meaningful academic exchange, bringing together faculty, researchers, and graduate students to engage with innovative perspectives on organizational life and management practices.
The day was structured to provide both scholarly rigor and opportunities for connection. Attendees participated in a series of engaging discussions, networking sessions, and featured presentations, all of which highlighted the breadth of contemporary research in the field. Four distinguished scholars were invited to share their latest work, each addressing a different but equally important theme within organizational studies.
The program began with a keynote presentation from Frédéric Godart of INSEAD, who delivered “Being Surrounded by Purity and What It Means for Creativity: The Case of Luxury Conglomerates.” His research examined the global luxury industry, focusing on how different subsidiaries within conglomerates influence one another. Godart emphasized that when one subsidiary maintains a singular focus on a particular institutional logic, such as jewelry, it can significantly affect the creative output of other subsidiaries like those operating in fashion. This work shed light on the complex balance between specialization and cross-pollination of ideas in large organizations.
The morning continued with Tony Kong of the University of Colorado Boulder, who presented “A Risk Regulation Model of Employee-Felt Appreciation in Response to Supervisor Gratitude Expression.” Kong’s talk explored how expressions of gratitude from supervisors can either strengthen or weaken employee feelings of being valued, depending on context. His findings underscored the importance of aligning managerial communication styles with employee preferences in order to build trust, appreciation, and openness in the workplace. The implications of this research are significant for managers seeking to enhance both employee voice and organizational culture.
In the afternoon, the conversation shifted toward innovation and problem-solving with a presentation by Cha Li of the University of Texas at Austin. Her study, “The Problem with Solutions: A Study of the Limiting Effect of Solution Distance on Problem Search,” highlighted how the distance of potential solutions can unintentionally restrict creativity and limit the search for effective organizational strategies. Li argued that innovation often depends not just on identifying solutions, but on cultivating the right processes for exploring problems in depth. Her research encouraged participants to rethink how organizations approach challenges, stressing the importance of problem-driven inquiry as a foundation for sustainable innovation.
The final featured presentation was given by Sara Hendrick of the University of Northern Colorado, who addressed an important intersection of work, family, and well-being. Her talk, “Unemployment Reverses the Tendency for Men to Benefit from Parenthood More than Women,” revealed that while parenthood often predicts higher life satisfaction for men, this advantage is reversed during periods of involuntary unemployment. In such circumstances, women report greater life satisfaction than men. Hendrick’s findings provide valuable insights into the social and psychological effects of employment status, emphasizing how work conditions and family roles interact in shaping individual well-being.
Taken together, the four presentations at this year’s Research Camp reflected the diversity and vitality of modern management research. From studies on creativity in global industries to insights on gratitude in leadership, problem-solving approaches, and the relationship between family and employment, the event highlighted the ways in which research can both explain and improve organizational life.
The UC Riverside School of Business continues to host the Management Research Camp as part of its mission to foster dialogue among scholars and to encourage innovative, evidence-based approaches to business challenges. By bringing together researchers from multiple universities, the event strengthens academic collaboration and supports the next generation of thought leaders in management and organizational behavior.
