Rethinking Managerial Preoccupation with Business Tournament Rituals

Call for Papers

Journal: Journal of Managerial Psychology
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31 January 2027

Journal of Managerial Psychology invites submissions for its Special Issue on Rethinking Managerial Preoccupation with Business Tournament Rituals.

About the Special Issue

Business Tournament Rituals (BTRs)—including corporate awards, recognition ceremonies, and industry accolades—have become increasingly influential in shaping organizational reputation, managerial identity, and competitive positioning. While such awards are often viewed as symbols of excellence and strategic legitimacy, growing concerns have emerged regarding their actual value, rising participation costs, and the proliferation of "vanity awards" with limited organizational impact.

This Special Issue seeks multidisciplinary research that critically examines why managers continue to invest significant resources in business awards and how these rituals influence managerial decision-making, organizational behavior, stakeholder perceptions, and firm performance. The issue welcomes theoretical, empirical, and conceptual contributions that offer fresh perspectives on the psychological, social, and strategic dimensions of Business Tournament Rituals.

Topics of Interest

Submissions may include, but are not limited to:

Managerial motivations for participating in Business Tournament Rituals
Managerial framing of business awards
Stakeholder engagement and organizational recognition
Business awards and organizational legitimacy
Managerial investment in award competitions
Decision-making surrounding Business Tournament Rituals
Communicating organizational awards and achievements
Cross-industry and cross-national perspectives on BTRs
Experiences of award-winning managers
Business awards and organizational reputation
Managerial cognition and sensemaking
Benefits and limitations of Business Tournament Rituals
Strategic value of organizational awards

Preferred Article Types

The journal welcomes:

Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Mixed-Methods Studies
Conceptual Papers

Submission Information

Manuscript Submission Opens: 01 October 2026
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31 January 2027
Manuscripts must be submitted through the ScholarOne Manuscripts submission system.
Authors should select the appropriate Special Issue during the submission process.
All submissions must strictly follow the journal's official Author Guidelines.
Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.

Guest Editors

David Sarpong
Derrick Boakye
Oksana Gerwe

Posted on ServiceSetu Academics — Premier Platform for Academic Opportunities & Research Collaboration.

Visit official website of the publisher

Rethinking Managerial Preoccupation with Business Tournament Rituals

DETAILS