IDeaS 2026 · London
Interpretive and Political Approaches to Information Systems and Algorithmic Assemblages
- Dates
- April 20–21, 2026, with a welcome dinner on April 19
- Venue
- Imperial Business School, White City Campus, London
- Hosts
- Imperial College London, with the University of Alberta, University of Ottawa, McGill University, and University of Arkansas
- Organizers
- Mark Kennedy and Markus Perkmann (Imperial), Tim Hannigan (Ottawa), Dev Jennings (Alberta), Samer Faraj (McGill), Shaila Miranda (Arkansas), Mayur Joshi (Ottawa)
- Scale
- More than forty presenters, chairs, and panelists
- Sponsors
- Imperial Business School; Alberta School of Business; CEFE; the T. A. Graham Chair; Telfer School of Management; Sam M. Walton College of Business; SSHRC
Overview
The 2026 conference addressed information technology systems and algorithmic assemblages in organizations and ecosystems, approached through interpretive and political lenses — platforms, blockchains, AI, cryptography, and robotics, and the question of who shapes, controls, and benefits from algorithmic organizing.
The first day focused on theory and method at the intersection of organization theory and information systems. The second day engaged questions of policy and governance, deliberately addressing policy audiences, and closed with a panel on technology and accountability.
London finally realized the workshop that had been planned for 2020 and cancelled by the pandemic — again hosted by Mark Kennedy.
Program
- Opening theme session — Mark Kennedy, Tim Hannigan, and Vern Glaser
- Advancing the Politics of Ecosystem Studies — chaired by Mark Kennedy
- Weak AI Governance Regimes — chaired by Robert Eberhart
- Algorithmic Organizing and Assemblages — chaired by Vern Glaser: Jennifer Sloan, Lilo Meier, Mehreen Ashraf
- Neo-Configurational Thinking and Method — including Santi Furnari, Tim Hannigan, and Yunjung Pak
- Keynote papers — Mayur Joshi; Moritz Kleinaltenkamp with Tim Hannigan; Madeleine Meurer
- Politics of Engagement, and Algorithms and Work in the Age of AI — parallel sessions including Hatim Rahman, Jana Retkowsky, Jessica Santana
- Closing panel — Policy, Technology and Accountability — chaired by Vern Glaser, with Tina Dacin, Andre Spicer, Susan Scott, and Marc Ventresca
Participants
Registration was coordinated by Dev Jennings and Yunjung Pak. The workshop closed with meetings with the editors of the Information & Organization special issue.