Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, United States
How can researchers identify and leverage foundational concepts and theories to position their work within or across fields? This PDW equips participants with the tools to construct foundational maps that help locate their research within broader scholarly landscapes. A foundational map allows scholars to critically evaluate a field’s existing contributions, identify knowledge gaps, and justify their research choices while obtaining alignment with enduring and generative questions inspired by the field’s defining theories. The session begins with an introduction to the “foundations approach,” exploring how foundational thinkers, works, and ideas shape academic fields. Participants will engage in a dynamic breakout group discussion to apply these principles to their own areas of interest. Finally, a hands-on activity will guide attendees in constructing foundational maps tailored to their research. The mapping technique was developed and refined in the Foundations of Strategy and Organisations PhD course at INSEAD over a period of 20 years. Whereas the technique was developed in the context of strategy research, it is applicable to various fields of social science such as economics, information systems, organizational behavior. This workshop is designed for researchers at all career stages who seek to strengthen their conceptual grounding, enhance the rigor of their work, and navigate the complexities of interdisciplinary scholarship. By the end, participants will leave with actionable insights and a draft of their foundational map, enabling them to clarify their research direction and communicate its significance effectively.
This interactive session introduces a mapping technique developed over 20 years in INSEAD’s Foundations PhD seminar. Participants will use a paid ChatGPT subscription to analyze how foundational thinkers and ideas connect to their own research. They will sketch a personalized foundational map and practice “silky path” skills—strategies for clarifying and communicating research focus.
As one senior foundational scholar noted: “I love your PDW! Taking what you’ve been doing with the Foundations Scholars and using the approach to help the students is a great idea… It reminds students about the foundations—not just recent research.”
Please note: Attendance is limited to 50 pre-registered participants due to space constraints. Participants are expected to have a paid subscription to ChatGPT or a similar large language model to fully engage in the session. To request a spot, please email your CV and a brief paragraph (2–3 sentences) explaining why you’d like to attend and what you hope to gain, to FoundationalMap@gmail.com.
