 | GSBR 2026: Gulf South Business Research Conference University of South Alabama Mobile, AL, United States, June 25-27, 2026 |
| Conference website | http://www.gsbr.net |
| Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=gsbr2026 |
| Abstract registration deadline | April 30, 2026 |
| Submission deadline | April 30, 2026 |
Collaboration, Creativity, and Commerce
Innovation in Business from Ideas to Execution
Mobile, Alabama, a historic Gulf Coast city known for its entrepreneurial spirit, maritime commerce, and growing innovation ecosystem, provides an ideal setting to explore how ideas evolve into real-world business impact. From emerging technologies and data-driven insights to creative problem-solving and cross-disciplinary collaboration, today’s business environment requires organizations to transform innovative ideas into practical execution.
Innovation rarely occurs in isolation. It emerges through collaboration across disciplines, industries, and institutions. Businesses today must combine creativity, strategic thinking, analytics, and operational expertise to develop solutions that respond to rapidly changing markets and technological disruption. Whether launching new ventures, redesigning supply chains, leveraging artificial intelligence and data analytics, or reimagining the customer experience, organizations must continuously adapt and innovate.
At the same time, business education plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of leaders to navigate this evolving landscape. Faculty, students, and practitioners are increasingly working together to translate theory into practice, connecting classroom learning with real-world challenges faced by organizations and communities.
The Gulf South Business Research Conference invites scholars, students, and industry professionals to explore how collaboration and creativity drive innovation across business disciplines. This year’s theme encourages research and discussion on how ideas move from conceptual development to implementation and measurable impact.
While submissions aligned with the conference theme are encouraged, the conference welcomes research across all areas of business scholarship and practice.
Submission Guidelines
Submission Categories
The Gulf South Business Research Conference welcomes submissions in the following categories:
Full Papers (Competitive Papers)
Full papers present completed or near-completed research that contributes to business scholarship and practice.
Submissions should include:
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Title
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Extended abstract (175 words)
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Key contributions to academe and practice (300 words)
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Manuscript (up to 3,600 words)
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Optional table or figure
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Selected references
Maximum total text length: 4,100 words
Formatting template and detailed guidelines:[Full Paper Template]
Extended Abstracts
Extended abstracts are designed for research in progress, emerging ideas, or early-stage projects.
Submissions should include:
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Title
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Keywords
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One-sentence paper description
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Research question
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Method and data (if applicable)
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Summary of findings
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Key contributions
Maximum total text length: 4 or 5 pages including references
Formatting template and detailed guidelines:[Extended Abstract Template]
Poster Presentations
Poster submissions present early-stage research, student projects, or works in progress in an interactive session.
Submissions should include:
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Title
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Key contributions to academe and practice (300 words)
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Extended abstract (up to 1,000 words)
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Optional table or figure
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Selected references
Maximum total text length: 1,300 words
Formatting template and detailed guidelines:[Poster Template]
At least one author must register for the conference for the poster to appear in the program.
Teaching Moments
Teaching Moments highlight innovative classroom practices, teaching strategies, and experiential learning approaches in business education.
Submissions should include:
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Teaching context
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Description of the teaching activity
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Learning outcomes and student impact
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Implications for business education
Formatting template and detailed guidelines:[Teaching Moment Template]
Industry White Papers
Industry White Papers present applied research, case studies, and data-driven insights from industry professionals and practitioners.
Submissions may include:
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Executive summary
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Industry context or business problem
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Approach or methodology
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Key insights or findings
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Implications for industry and research
Formatting template and detailed guidelines:[Industry White Paper Template]
Important Notes
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Submissions must be uploaded in PDF format.
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Manuscripts must follow blind review requirements.
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Authors will receive submission confirmation via email after successful upload.
List of Topics
The Gulf South Business Research Conference welcomes submissions in the following tracks:
Collaboration, Creativity, and Commerce: Innovation in Business from Ideas to Execution
This theme highlights how ideas evolve through collaboration, creative problem-solving, and execution across business disciplines, from classroom to boardroom, research to practice.
1. Teaching Moments & Pedagogical Innovation
Focus: How ideas are taught, tested, and transformed in the classroom.
Topics may include:
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Innovative teaching methods and instructional design
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Experiential and project-based learning
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AI and technology in business education
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Curriculum development and assessment
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Industry–academia collaboration in teaching
2. Management, Leadership & Organizational Innovation
Focus: How collaboration and leadership drive innovation and execution within organizations.
Topics may include:
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Leadership and organizational behavior
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Entrepreneurship and small business development
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Strategy and innovation management
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Diversity, equity, inclusion, ethics, and governance
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Change management and organizational resilience
3. Marketing, Consumer Insight & Creative Strategy
Focus: Turning ideas into value through deeper understanding of markets and consumers.
Topics may include:
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Consumer behavior and decision-making
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Branding, storytelling, and creative strategy
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Retail, CPG, and service marketing
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Digital marketing, social commerce, and AI-driven marketing
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Pricing strategy, trust, and customer experience
4. Data Analytics, AI & Business Intelligence
Focus: Transforming data into insight and informed decision-making.
Topics may include:
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Business analytics and data visualization
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Artificial intelligence and machine learning in business
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Predictive modeling and forecasting
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Ethical and responsible AI
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Decision support systems and data-driven strategy
5. Supply Chain, Logistics & Operational Execution
Focus: Where innovation meets real-world execution.
Topics may include:
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Supply chain strategy and resilience
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Logistics, transportation, and operations management
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Technology-enabled supply chains
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Sustainability and risk management in operations
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Global and regional supply chain networks
Student & Career-Focused Tracks
6. MBA Student Research & Applied Projects
Focus: Practice-oriented research and real-world problem solving.
Topics may include:
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MBA capstone projects
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Applied analytics and business intelligence
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Consulting and industry projects
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Innovation and entrepreneurship case studies
Suggested format: Poster sessions or short paper presentations.
7. Doctoral Research & PhD Student Track
Focus: Emerging scholarship and research in progress.
Topics may include:
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Conceptual and theoretical models
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Empirical research studies
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Methodological innovations
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Early-stage dissertation research
Suggested format: Developmental sessions with faculty discussants.
8. Dissertation Abstracts & Best Dissertation Award
Focus: Recognizing outstanding doctoral research contributions.
Submissions may include:
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Completed or near-completion dissertations
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Structured dissertation abstracts
A Best Dissertation Award will be presented during the conference.
Suggested format: Dissertation spotlight session.
Applied & Industry Engagement Track
9. Practitioner & White Paper Track
Focus: Translating research into real-world business impact.
Topics may include:
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Practitioner-led insights and applied research
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Industry white papers and case studies
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University–industry collaborations
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Policy, economic development, and regional business innovation
10. Dissertation Roundtable Incubator
Focus: Interactive discussion and mentoring for doctoral students working on dissertation research.
The Dissertation Roundtable provides doctoral students with an opportunity to discuss their dissertation ideas, research design, and methodological approaches in a collaborative setting with academics and peers.
Students may bring questions related to:
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Refining research questions and theoretical framing
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Research design and methodology
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Data collection and analysis strategies
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Navigating the dissertation process
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Preparing research for publication
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Entering the academic job market
Roundtable sessions are designed to be informal, supportive, and developmental, allowing doctoral students to gain feedback from experienced researchers across business disciplines.
Committees
TBD.
Publication
Accepted submissions to the Gulf South Business Research Conference (GSBR) will be eligible for inclusion in the GSBR Conference Proceedings, which will be published as an online publication following the conference.
The online proceedings will showcase selected contributions presented at the conference and will include research from multiple submission categories.
Authors of accepted competitive full papers may choose one of the following publication options:
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Publish the full paper in the GSBR online conference proceedings, or
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Publish an extended abstract in the proceedings, allowing the full manuscript to be submitted to an academic journal or other publication outlet after the conference.
Accepted submissions from other categories, including extended abstracts, posters, teaching moments, and industry white papers, may also be considered for inclusion in the online proceedings.
Publication in the GSBR proceedings provides authors with a citable record of their work and conference participation.
Venue
The Gulf South Business Research Conference (GSBR) will be hosted at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, United States.
Located along the Gulf Coast, the University of South Alabama provides a vibrant academic setting for scholars, industry professionals, and students to engage in discussions about emerging trends in business research, innovation, and practice.
Conference sessions will take place within the university’s Mitchell College of Business, providing participants with opportunities for scholarly exchange, collaboration, and networking.
Mobile is a historic port city known for its rich cultural heritage, thriving maritime economy, and growing innovation ecosystem, making it an ideal location to host conversations about the future of business, analytics, and artificial intelligence.
Additional details regarding conference facilities, parking, and local accommodations will be provided closer to the conference date.
Contact
For questions regarding submissions, conference participation, or program details, please contact:
Marianne Loes University of South Alabama Email: mloes@southalabama.edu
Kenny O'Connor University of West Florida Email: koconnor1@uwf.edu