From Grassroots to Government: Empowering Social Change to Address Wicked Problems
June 6-8, 2024 | Washington, D.C.
Marketing and Public Policy scholarship seeks to address issues at the intersection of consumers, organizations, and policymakers. As a field, our focus often resides at the level of national legislation and major-headline decisions. However, social change and impactful policymaking often begins at the local, community level. Further, bottom-up, grassroots movements fueled by consumers as well as corporate interests play a major role in shifting public sentiments, community social endeavors, and legislative action. While federal, top-down approaches may result in broad, sweeping action, consumer groups and communities can create significant, lasting change through local policymaking efforts. For our 2024 conference, we encourage work that addresses the relationships between marketing and public policy activities at the micro, meso and macro perspectives. We invite scholars to consider diverse stakeholder groups at all levels, who generate or influence social change at the intersection of marketing and policy.
As with all eras, our present society is facing major crises and challenges that not only affect every corner of the globe, but also seem impossible to solve. These complex issues, or wicked problems (Rittel and Webber 1973), are persistent challenges because there are typically no straightforward solutions, with unequally distributed costs and benefits. Therefore, addressing these issues demands consideration from multiple, sometimes opposing perspectives and stakeholder groups. As academics and policymakers, it is our responsibility to explore these difficult issues through holistic assessments and creative approaches to problem solving. Further, we must consider the intersectionality of these concerns, including diverse contributors and those implicitly and explicitly affected by them. By adopting a broad view to include all approaches to developing and impacting policy, we hope to bring fresh ideas to pursue boundary-spanning, marketing-relevant work, resulting in sustainable responses to pervasive wicked problems (MacInnis et. al 2020). Drawing on the words from constitutional law scholar, Paul Freund, we urge our colleagues to submit work that advances thought not merely suited for the “weather of the day,” but also for the “climate of the era.”
We encourage submissions that could potentially contribute to public policy development in the following areas:
Conference Topics
- Housing and urban development
- Community and social services
- Poverty, consumption adequacy and self-reliance
- Gun violence, control and rights
- Mental health crises
- Sustainable energy, practices, and products
- Collaboration and tension in policy development at varying levels of government
- Policy connected with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals
- Polarization and radicalization of ideologies
- Civil rights, gender and race in the marketplace
- Substance abuse, opioids, vaping
- Healthcare, consumer rights and access to health services
- Neurodiverse consumers and the marketplace
- The risks and costs of using artificial intelligence
- Online and data privacy
Submission Types
Submission Template – Competitive Papers
Manuscripts addressing substantive or theoretical topics are sought for competitive paper sessions.
It is mandatory that at least one author of all accepted papers register for, and present the paper at, the conference. Submission of the same (or substantially overlapping) manuscript(s) to multiple themes is not permitted. As a reminder, papers are reviewed following a double-anonymized process; reviewers will not know who authored the papers, nor will authors know the names of their reviewers.
Format and Style for Competitive Papers:
Prepare and submit electronic documents in PDF format. Please include 1) Title, 2) Extended Abstract (175 word limit), 3) Key Contributions to academe and practitioners (300 words) 4) Manuscript (up to 3,600 words), 5) Table or Figure (optional) and 6) Selected references. Authors have the option of including one table summarizing results and/or one figure (these do not count against the word limit). References also do not count against the word limit.
[Please note that submissions with text longer than 4,100 words will not be reviewed].
To assure an anonymous review, authors must avoid revealing their identities in the body or reference section of the paper. Authors should do the following:
- Do not save the file with author-identifying information in the file name.
- Do not include a front page with author-identifying information.
- Remove the author identifying information from the document’s file properties.
Confirmation that your paper was submitted successfully will be sent via email to the submitter.
Authors of accepted competitive papers have the option of publishing either an extended abstract or a full paper in the conference proceedings. Choosing to publish an Extended Abstract gives authors the option to submit the paper elsewhere for publication after the conference.
Submission Template – Poster Presentation
Poster sessions provide an opportunity to share research in the working stage, i.e., with at least part of the data having been collected and analyzed, but not necessarily ready for submission to a journal. They are presented as part of poster sessions. Poster sessions can be particularly useful for getting input at intermediate stages of a research project. All poster abstract submissions must be directed to only one topic.
By submitting a poster abstract, the author affirms that they will register for and appear at the conference to participate in the poster session.
Format and Submission Process for Posters:
Prepare and submit an extended abstract in PDF format. Poster submissions must include the title and an extended abstract of 750-1000 words plus selected references. The abstract should summarize the research, including the conceptual framework, description of the method, data, results, and conclusions. Authors also have the option of including one table summarizing results and/or one figure (these also do not count against the word limit).
In addition to the manuscript, please prepare brief descriptions clearly stating your (1) Research Question, (2) Method and Data used (not applicable for non-empirical papers), (3) Key Contributions, and (4) Summary of Findings.
To assure an anonymous review, authors must avoid revealing their identities in the body or reference section of the paper. Authors should do the following:
- Do not include a front page with author-identifying information.
At the time of submission via Ex Ordo, the submitter will be asked to provide contact information for all authors including name, affiliation and email.
Confirmation that your abstract was submitted successfully will be sent via email to the submitter.
Accepted poster authors must agree to prepare a poster for display during the session and be available to discuss your research and answer questions at the invited poster session.
Submission Template – Special Session
Anyone may organize and propose a special session, although those who are unfamiliar with AMA conference special sessions are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the conference co-chairs or track chairs for developmental feedback before submitting a proposal. Special sessions provide a good vehicle to acquaint marketing academics with new perspectives, theories, and provocative ideas, to bring diverse participants together around a common theme, or to integrate academically-minded practitioners into the conference. Sessions involving participants from multiple countries, focusing on theory development or cutting-edge research directions, and offering insights regarding academic-business partnerships for teaching or research are particularly encouraged.
Special sessions should feature three or four presentations on a related theme. Another possibility is an interactive panel discussion among 4-6 panelists and a moderator. Other creative special session formats are encouraged, particularly those that generate attendee interaction.
All special session proposal submissions must be directed to only one topic. Proposals for special sessions should describe the topic and its importance to marketing, summarize the issues to be covered, and identify all individuals (with their qualifications) who will formally participate. Special session proposals should provide specificity regarding the purpose, format, participants and roles in the session.
Selection criteria include the general quality of the proposal, the level of interest the session is likely to generate at the conference, and the session’s relevance to the conference theme.
By submitting a special session proposal, the organizer and listed participants affirm that, if accepted, all will register for and appear at the Conference as described in the proposal.
Format and Submission Process for Special Sessions:
Prepare and submit an extended abstract in PDF format. Special session proposals must include the title of the session and an extended abstract of 4,100 words maximum. The proposal should describe the objective of the session, its structure and general orientation, likely audience, key issues, and topics to be covered, as well as a description of why the session is likely to make an important contribution to the discipline. Also, include a brief description of each paper in the session.
The text of the special session proposal must not exceed 4,100 words and should be submitted in the double-spaced format, prepared in 12-point font. Please prepare a separate description not exceeding 100 words. This should not be included in the proposal itself but will be pasted in the appropriate space during the submission process via Ex Ordo
At the time of submission via the online system, the submitter will be asked to provide contact information for all presenters including name, affiliation, and email as it should appear in the final program materials.
Due to the unique nature of special sessions, presenter names and information should be included in the proposal and will be noted as a part of the review process.
Confirmation that your proposal was submitted successfully will be sent via email to the submitter. All special session moderators and participants are expected to register for the conference.
How Do I Submit My Paper?
All submissions should be made electronically via the AMA’s online submission management system (Ex Ordo). If you have submitted to an AMA academic conference in the last year, you should be able to use the same username and password. The deadline for submission was November 15, 2023.
Important Dates
- Call for Papers Due: November 15, 2023
- Accept/Reject Notifications Sent: February 2024
- Event Early-Bird Registration: May 8, 2024
Conference Co-Chairs
Courtney Azzari
University of North Florida
Sterling Bone
Utah State University
Meredith Thomas
Florida State University
Code of Ethics
Authors submitting papers to American Marketing Association academic conferences must adhere to the following code of ethics:
- Submitting authors should specify who will present papers being considered for Special Sessions or Competitive Paper presentations. An author can be listed as a presenter for no more than two submissions but can be listed as the co-author of multiple submissions. This restriction is to encourage authors to submit their best work and to allow a wider range of presenters.
- Submissions should not already be published in any journal or publication (including online journals, books, and book chapters). Submitting authors should monitor this issue carefully.