The fifth presenter: Bob Hoskisson.

"Agents (Inside Directors) Watching Other Agents (Investment Bankers and VCs): Multiple Agency Conflict Regarding Underpricing in IPO Firms" was the title of a presentation made by Bob Hoskisson (Arizona State University). The paper is part of a stream of research that involved several Authors, including Lowell Busenitz. The paper has been published on the Academy of Management Journal (vol.51, n.2/2008). The study is about initial public offerings and it focused on the IPO process where, according to the Agency Theory, agents watch other agents in the underpricing. A set of seven hypotheses on a sample of 400 IPOs during 1990-1995 has been tested. Less then 20 control variables have been provided. Three of the seven hypotheses have not been supported. Since the paper develops theory to address when underpricing will be more or less severe, it received remarkable attention and interest during the discussion.

The fourth presenter: Lowell Busenitz

"Governance, Signaling and the Acquisition of IPO Ventures" was the title of the paper presented by Lowell Busenitz (University of Oklahoma). It is a study conducted by the presenter and other three Co-Authors: Jason Harkins, Richard Johnson and Robert Hoskisson about the importance of anti-takeover provisions and other strategic signals potentially indicating acquisition activity within five years of IPO. A set of seven hypotheses on a sample of 258 tech-based IPO ventures has been provided. Six of the seven hypotheses have been supported. Results have showed that anti-takeover mechanisms are not deterrents to IPO takeover and key manager/owners want greater control over firm outcomes.

The third presenter: Rosario Faraci

"The Governance of Transition in European Firms" was the third presentation released by Rosario Faraci (University of Catania). The paper focused on how corporate governance matters for firms in transitions, those firms experiencing evolving patterns of monitoring, control and financing in different stages of their growth. According to the Italian presenter, firms in transition in Europe are state-owned enterprises going to be privatized in various steps, family businesses ready to be taken over by the next generation, and the entrepreneurial treshold firms. Preliminary results of an inductive study in progress have been provided. The Europe, both Western and Eastern regions, shows a significant numbers of firms in transition among the privately-held and the government-held companies.

The second presenter: Kathy Harrigan.

"Corporate Governance:Comparing United States and Japanese Boards of Directors" was the title of the second paper, presented by Kathryn Harrigan (Columbia University). The Author presented an inductive study about divergent opinions of directors and top managers of some Japanese and US firms on how corporate governance works, looking particularly at negative or positive effects. An interesting set of descriptive statistics has been provided by Professor Kathy Harrigan which emphasized how opinions and perceptions of governance forms may differ significantly in the US and Japanese firms, mainly companies listed in their respective stock exchanges markets. The presentation of Professor Harrigan got a remarkable attention and interest during the discussion led by Costas Markides and Wei Shen.

The first presenter: Arturo Capasso.

"Strategic Management and Corporate Governance: Good Theories and Bad Practices Across the Atlantic" was the title of the presentation made by Arturo Capasso (presenter) and Giovanni Battista Dagnino, the two organizers of the symposium. The paper primarily relied on the possible integration of the strategic and the governance functions of firms. Looking at the institutional, normative and cultural contexts of firms, the two Authors explained how the strategic and the governance functions can interact and how the relationships path is moderated by firm financing, entrepreneurial endowment and managerial skills. Some longitudinal case studies enriched the research provided by the two Italian Co-Authors.

Giambattista Dagnino: The rule of two...worked!

During his presentation, Giambattista Dagnino, one of the symposium's organizers, illustrated the "rule of two" that shaped the organization of this event. Two basic themes: corporate governance and strategic management. Two Organizers: Giambattista and Arturo. Two Discussants: Wei Shen and Costas Markides. Two ways of looking at corporate governance and strategic management: contexts and concepts. But, even two animals used as metaphors of corporate governance and strategic management: the fox and the lion, according to Machiavelli's idea of their interaction. And, finally, the paradox of two: the chicken and the egg. Who was the first?

Room 201D at the Convention Center: The Symposium started at 12.20 pm

The symposium organized by Arturo Capasso and Giovanni Battista Dagnino has started at 12.20 pm, located at the room 201D at the Convention Center. It finished on time at 2.10 pm. Panelists have been Kathy Harrigan, Bob Hoskisson, Rosario Faraci and Lowell Busenitz. Discussants: Wei Shen and Costas Markides. About 30 people attended the symposium and among them Ken Smith, the President, and Angelo DeNisi, the incoming President of the Academy of Management. In addition, Peter Ring, the former Program Chair of the Strategic Management Society Annual Meeting attended the symposium. Attendees joined from US, Canadian, Chinese, Japanese, Brasilian, Dutch, Swiss and Italian Universities. Roberto Di Pietra, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Management and Governance, announced the special issue of the journal related to the symposium and the 2009 award for the best paper published on JMG.

The Symposium will be held under the auspices of the Journal of Management and Governance

The symposium "Corporate governance and strategic management in different context: fostering novel exchanges", organized by Arturo Capasso and Giovanni Battista Dagnino, will be held under the auspices of the Journal of Management and Governance. The Journal, published by Springer Verlag, is an editorial outlet of AIDEA, the Italian Academy of Management whose President is Professor Roberto Cafferata. The Editor-in-Chief of JMG Professor Roberto Di Pietra will attend the symposium and a panelist, Rosario Faraci, is one of the four Co-Editors of the journal. JMG will devote a special issue to the topics covered in the symposium. Guest Editors will be Arturo Capasso and Wei Shen. During the symposium more details about the forthcoming special issue will be announced.

Convening to the Anhaeim Convention Center

About 7,000 people from 83 different countries are convening to the Academy of Management Annual Meeting at the Anaheim Convention Center, California. The first two days of the Annual Meeting hosted some of the 1685 sessions scheduled for the event, primarily dedicated to the Doctoral Consortium meetings of the different Divisions and to the PDWs (professional development workshops). The bulk of the sessions is scheduled on the next three days. The session run by Arturo Capasso and Giovanni Battista Dagnino, dedicated to the symposium about corporate governance and strategic management in different contexts, is scheduled on Monday Aug11th at the room 201D (second floor of the Convention Center) from 12.20 pm to 2.10 pm. The Organizers, the Panelists and the Discussants are still working on their presentations, to make the session more interesting and interactive. Good luck!

One way to...Corporate Governance and Strategic Management in Different Contexts

The two organizers of the symposium "Corporate Governance and Strategic Management in Different Contexts" are now in Anhaeim. Arturo Capasso and Giovanni Battista Dagnino seem to indicate that there is only one way...that of joining them to the symposium that will be held on Monday Aug 11th at the Anaheim Convention Center, 201 D from 12.20 pm to 2.10 pm. during the Academy of Management Annual Convention. While enjoying family vacation and attending some research meetings at AOM, Arturo and Giovanni Battista are now ready to run the symposium, sponsored by BPS, ENT and IM Divisions under the auspices of the Journal of Management and Governance that will dedicate a special issue to the topic of corporate governance and strategic management (Guest Editors: Arturo Capasso and Wei Shen). Invited panelists will be Kathy Harrigan, Rosario Faraci, Lowell Busenitz and Bob Hoskisson. Discussants will be Wei Shen and Costas Markides. Most of them have just arrived or are arriving soon to Anaheim, California.