Seminars & Conferences
Faculty Research - Seminars & Conferences - 4th Competitive Dynamics Conference
4th Competitive Dynamics Conference
We cordially invite you to the 4th Competitive Dynamics Conference, to be held in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, July 27-28, 2026.
Theme: "Competitive Dynamics in Transition"
Organizing Committee: Ming-Jer Chen, Yo-Jud Cheng, Skyler Clark-Hamel, and Young Hou
Conference Overview
In an increasingly fragmented and disrupted world, competition is not confined by boundaries or defined by rivals. The 4th Competitive Dynamics Conference (CD-4) invites scholars (and practitioners) to reexamine the foundations and frontiers of dynamic competition—a perspective that views strategy as an ongoing process of action and reaction among opponents.
This year’s theme, “Competitive Dynamics in Transition,” captures the spirit of a world in flux—technologically, geopolitically, and institutionally—and challenges us to rethink how firms and leaders compete, cooperate, and coexist in a state of constant, and quick, change.
In that spirit, the conference will provide an opportunity for management scholars interested in rivalry of all kinds and across different contexts—including technological, AI-driven, interpersonal, and geopolitical competition—to share their work. The forum will foster in-depth discussions through formal paper presentations, panel discussions, poster sessions, and opportunities for informal conversations.
Submission Guidelines
The conference submission deadline has passed.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Registration is open to anyone interested in attending.
Questions? Contact the conference organizers at: [email protected].
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Conference Program
The conference will run from the morning of Monday, July 27 through the evening of Tuesday, July 28.
View the preliminary conference schedule here.
The full program schedule will be posted soon.Featured Speakers & Discussants
Jay Barney (University of Utah) 
Weiru Chen (CEIBS) 
Javier Gimeno (INSEAD) 
Riitta Katila (Stanford) 
Andy Wu (HBS) Program Highlights
- Hosted at the University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included for both days of the conference
- Reception and dinner at the University of Virginia Rotunda (day 1)
- Dinner and excursion to experience the natural beauty of the Charlottesville area (day 2)
- Formal paper presentations and interactive “Open Conversations in the Round” session
- Special remarks and conversations over First Coffee, one of Darden’s most cherished and long-standing and traditions
- Teaching workshop
- Doctoral student workshop
- A welcoming and collegial environment that encourages scholarly exchange and informal interaction
The CD-4 conference continues a tradition of rotating among leading business schools, and this year will be held in the United States for the first time. The conference takes a broad, inclusive perspective of competitive dynamics to encourage work that expands the intellectual boundaries of the field and embraces diverse viewpoints. Its aim is to generate high-quality scholarly output while engendering an engaged, collaborative community that will continue to grow and evolve beyond the event itself.
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Registration & Fees
Early Bird Registration
(Register by May 15, 5PM EDT)Regular Registration
(Register by June 15)Faculty & Post-Docs $275 $350 PhD Students* $150 $200 Online-Only Attendance N/A $200
(Registration will be open for online-only participants until July 19)* Registration fees are waived for PhD students affiliated with any paper or extended abstract submitted to the conference, regardless of acceptance status. Eligible PhD students should register through the special registration link (rather than the general registration link below, which requires payment), which was emailed to submitters by the conference organizers.
REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE
Conference registration is open to anyone interested in attending. Registration for in-person attendance will be open until June 15, 2026. All conference participants must register. No refunds will be made.
Registration fees will cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all program events on July 27 and 28.
Online-only participants will be able to participate in paper sessions and view the keynote address. An exclusive off-program event for online participants is being planned with a special guest. Every effort will be made to ensure an engaging experience.
Visa Invitation Letters
If you need a visa invitation letter, fill out this form and we will send you one. Please allow up to a week for processing. Any questions can be sent to the conference organizing committee at: [email protected]
-
Lodging & Travel
The CD-4 Conference will take place at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business located at:
100 Darden Boulevard
Charlottesville, VA 22903
U.S.A.We encourage you to make your travel plans and accommodations reservations early.
Lodging
We have reserved a block of hotel rooms at a rate of $195/night at UVA Darden's premier boutique hotel, The Forum Hotel, conveniently situated directly on the Darden Grounds. Enjoy luxe amenities, an upscale experience, and a vibrant atmosphere. Check availability and make a reservation with the special group rate here.
The Charlottesville region offers a wide range of lodging options, from no-frills motels to luxurious resorts. For those looking for other options, these hotels are popular with Darden visitors:
• Sonesta ES Suites (★★★, 0.8 miles)
• Virginia Guesthouse (★★, 1.1 miles)
• Graduate by Hilton Charlottesville (★★★★, 1.8 miles)
• Courtyard by Marriott - University Medical Center (★★★, 1.9 miles)
• The Draftsman (★★★★, 2.0 miles)
• The Doyle Hotel (★★★½, 2.5 miles)
• Residence Inn Charlottesville Downtown (★★★, 2.6 miles)
• Hyatt Place Charlottesville (★★★, 2.8 miles)
• Boar’s Head Resort (★★★★, 2.9 miles)View the Visit Charlottesville Hotel Guide here.
Getting to Charlottesville
By Air
Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport (CHO): Located 9 miles from Darden (approx. 20 minute drive). Direct flights to/from Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), serviced by American Airlines, Delta, and United.Other airports in our area:
• Richmond International Airport (RIC): Located 85 miles from Darden (approx. 75 minute drive)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD): Located 100 miles from Darden (approx. 2 hour drive)
• Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): Located 121 miles from Darden (approx. 2.5 hour drive)By Train
Charlottesville Station (Amtrak; Station Code: CVS): Located less than 3 miles from Darden (approx. 10 minute drive)By Bus
Charlottesville Union Station (Greyhound Bus): Located less than 3 miles from Darden, at the same station as Amtrak (approx. 10 minute drive)By Car
Driving directions are available here.Uber and Lyft are available throughout the area, though wait times may occasionally be longer.
Getting to the Academy of Management Annual Meeting
For conference attendees continuing on to the AOM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, we recommend taking the Amtrak train from Charlottesville Station (CVS) to Philadelphia William H Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL). The ride is about 5.5 hours on the Northeast Regional.
The conference will run from the morning of Monday, July 27 through the evening of Tuesday, July 28.
View the preliminary conference schedule here.
The full program schedule will be posted soon.
Featured Speakers & Discussants
|
Jay Barney (University of Utah) |
|
Weiru Chen (CEIBS) |
|
Javier Gimeno (INSEAD) |
|
Riitta Katila (Stanford) |
|
Andy Wu (HBS) |
Program Highlights
- Hosted at the University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included for both days of the conference
- Reception and dinner at the University of Virginia Rotunda (day 1)
- Dinner and excursion to experience the natural beauty of the Charlottesville area (day 2)
- Formal paper presentations and interactive “Open Conversations in the Round” session
- Special remarks and conversations over First Coffee, one of Darden’s most cherished and long-standing and traditions
- Teaching workshop
- Doctoral student workshop
- A welcoming and collegial environment that encourages scholarly exchange and informal interaction
The CD-4 conference continues a tradition of rotating among leading business schools, and this year will be held in the United States for the first time. The conference takes a broad, inclusive perspective of competitive dynamics to encourage work that expands the intellectual boundaries of the field and embraces diverse viewpoints. Its aim is to generate high-quality scholarly output while engendering an engaged, collaborative community that will continue to grow and evolve beyond the event itself.
| Early Bird Registration (Register by May 15, 5PM EDT) |
Regular Registration (Register by June 15) |
|
| Faculty & Post-Docs | $275 | $350 |
| PhD Students* | $150 | $200 |
| Online-Only Attendance | N/A | $200 (Registration will be open for online-only participants until July 19) |
* Registration fees are waived for PhD students affiliated with any paper or extended abstract submitted to the conference, regardless of acceptance status. Eligible PhD students should register through the special registration link (rather than the general registration link below, which requires payment), which was emailed to submitters by the conference organizers.
REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE
Conference registration is open to anyone interested in attending. Registration for in-person attendance will be open until June 15, 2026. All conference participants must register. No refunds will be made.
Registration fees will cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all program events on July 27 and 28.
Online-only participants will be able to participate in paper sessions and view the keynote address. An exclusive off-program event for online participants is being planned with a special guest. Every effort will be made to ensure an engaging experience.
Visa Invitation Letters
If you need a visa invitation letter, fill out this form and we will send you one. Please allow up to a week for processing. Any questions can be sent to the conference organizing committee at: [email protected]
The CD-4 Conference will take place at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business located at:
100 Darden Boulevard
Charlottesville, VA 22903
U.S.A.
We encourage you to make your travel plans and accommodations reservations early.
Lodging
We have reserved a block of hotel rooms at a rate of $195/night at UVA Darden's premier boutique hotel, The Forum Hotel, conveniently situated directly on the Darden Grounds. Enjoy luxe amenities, an upscale experience, and a vibrant atmosphere. Check availability and make a reservation with the special group rate here.
The Charlottesville region offers a wide range of lodging options, from no-frills motels to luxurious resorts. For those looking for other options, these hotels are popular with Darden visitors:
• Sonesta ES Suites (★★★, 0.8 miles)
• Virginia Guesthouse (★★, 1.1 miles)
• Graduate by Hilton Charlottesville (★★★★, 1.8 miles)
• Courtyard by Marriott - University Medical Center (★★★, 1.9 miles)
• The Draftsman (★★★★, 2.0 miles)
• The Doyle Hotel (★★★½, 2.5 miles)
• Residence Inn Charlottesville Downtown (★★★, 2.6 miles)
• Hyatt Place Charlottesville (★★★, 2.8 miles)
• Boar’s Head Resort (★★★★, 2.9 miles)
View the Visit Charlottesville Hotel Guide here.
Getting to Charlottesville
By Air
Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport (CHO): Located 9 miles from Darden (approx. 20 minute drive). Direct flights to/from Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), serviced by American Airlines, Delta, and United.
Other airports in our area:
• Richmond International Airport (RIC): Located 85 miles from Darden (approx. 75 minute drive)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD): Located 100 miles from Darden (approx. 2 hour drive)
• Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): Located 121 miles from Darden (approx. 2.5 hour drive)
By Train
Charlottesville Station (Amtrak; Station Code: CVS): Located less than 3 miles from Darden (approx. 10 minute drive)
By Bus
Charlottesville Union Station (Greyhound Bus): Located less than 3 miles from Darden, at the same station as Amtrak (approx. 10 minute drive)
By Car
Driving directions are available here.
Uber and Lyft are available throughout the area, though wait times may occasionally be longer.
Getting to the Academy of Management Annual Meeting
For conference attendees continuing on to the AOM Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, we recommend taking the Amtrak train from Charlottesville Station (CVS) to Philadelphia William H Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL). The ride is about 5.5 hours on the Northeast Regional.