Reimagining HRM practices amid technological advancement: Sixth Human Resources International Conference commences at IIMB
The conference themed on: ‘Sustainable Human Resource Management in the Age of Disruption’ has been organized by the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management
9 April, 2026, Bengaluru: The sixth Human Resources International Conference (HRIC), organized by the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management (AOM), commenced at IIM Bangalore earlier today, during a day full of discussions on balancing organizational agility, employee well-being and long-term sustainability amid technological shifts. The global summit on the theme, ‘Sustainable Human Resource Management in the Age of Disruption’, is being held at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) from 9th to 11th April 2026, and will see focused sessions on AI’s profound and evolving impact on work and workforces. The academic gathering was previously held in China, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa. For more details, please visit: https://www.iimb.ac.in/hric2026/index.php
HRIC 2026 is ideal for academics, practitioners and doctoral as well as other students who can share their insights, research and expertise to reflect on the future of HR in an era defined by technological transformation and workplace disruption. It aims to reimagine Human Resource Management (HRM) practices that respond not only to the opportunities presented by technological advancement, but also to the human and ethical challenges they pose.
The Conference Conveners are Prof. Pawan Budhwar, Aston University, Birmingham, UK; Prof. Arup Varma, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago, and Prof. Sushanta K Mishra, Chairperson, Research & Publications, C-DOCTA and Centre for Teaching & Learning, Editor-in-Chief, IIMB Management Review, and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area, IIM Bangalore.
Keynotes addresses
Insightful keynote addresses by industry stalwarts set the tone for HRIC 2026.
Saugata Gupta (PGP 1991 alumnus), Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Marico Limited, focused his talk on how organizations can navigate, build, lead and stay ahead in the face of disruption.
“We often think that we can do better in a certain situation, and potentially we can, once we take a decisive step in our own field.” Pointing out that change is a constant in the world we are living in, he added that talent alone may not help one attain one’s full potential, always. “Mentorship, support, access, etc. play a key role too. Although India is a country full of potential, not all talent gets nurtured. Organizations need to build systems to ensure sustained capability – they have to build, renew and scale human capability. Moreover, current challenges include geopolitical volatility, generational change and exponential technological advancement. Although there is nothing new about uncertainty, the complexities have increased. Organizations need to rethink, adapt and shape the workforce and marketplace accordingly.”
He also spoke of internal expectations from organizations and said companies need to be more humane. “Being part of the Shadow a Leader initiative at IIM Bangalore as a mentor taught me that learning is a two-way process. Organizations have to be listening to gain insight. They have to gain the trust of employees by giving them more agency.”
Saugata Gupta prescribed five key measures that organizations can adopt to achieve the desired results, including, upskilling and reskilling, building future leaders, investing in talent pool, adopting sustainable HR approaches such as inclusion, and fostering employee wellbeing and purpose. “Leaders must step up – in the sphere of systems they build, culture they foster and opportunities they create – which will help them shape their organizations, creating a high-performing and engaged workforce.”
Saugata Gupta’s talk was followed by a Q&A session, during which he observed that in his industry, use of AI creates bandwidth, capability and helps accelerate operations. “Although AI drives better decision making, speed and efficiency in my own organization, it cannot replace the element of experience behind taking the right decisions.” He also discussed the importance of culture and values of organizations as well as personal peace and happiness.
Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Faculty and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area of IIMB, felicitated Saugata Gupta.
The other address by Swapna Bapat, MD and VP – India and SAARC, Palo Alto Networks, who is an alumna of the ‘Tanmatra – Women in Leadership Programme’ of IIMB, described the process of evolution of multinationals in our country – from being back-office centres to strategic hubs in diverse business functions – side-by-side her own career trajectory.
“Indian multinationals are now transformation hubs, engaged from execution to definition, shaping international economics. That shift involves thinking in terms of ownership, about what to build and how to build, and depends on the MNC’s leadership locally.”
Talking about technology focus, she said, “AI has changed the way we work. There is immense improvement in productivity. In terms of my own organization, it has made hiring talent from tier 2 and 3 cities possible and beneficial as these employees are extremely motivated to meet the needs of any company in the world, and contribute to the success of MNCs substantially. Technology has now made it possible to work from any location or device. Some of the women employees from such locations have themselves progressed and contributed to organizational success in leaps and bounds, thanks again to technology.” She also made mention of supportive government measures such as the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which is India's landmark legislation governing processing of digital personal data, ensuring user consent and privacy while allowing lawful usage. “These measures are vital for ensuring accountability. It shows that companies based in India and MNCs know how to handle data.”
“AI is resulting in drastic changes which are happening very fast. Core innovation is what AI is enabling – helping shape companies which are headquartered in India and multinational in nature.”
During the Q&A session following her talk, Swapna Bapat spoke appreciatively of Gen Z, stating that they are driven and are fast learners, who can be groomed to become assets in any organization. “Companies need to learn how to handle them and take their productivity to greater heights. In my own organization too, we have programs to groom them and they come out very evolved and professional.”
Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Dean, Alumni Relations & Development and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area of IIMB, felicitated Swapna Bapat.
Panel discussion: Meet the Editors
Day One of HRIC 2026 wrapped up with a panel discussion bringing together editors from leading international HR and management journals. The session, moderated by Prof. Pawan Budhwar (Co-Editor-in-Chief, Human Resource Management Journal ), featured Prof. Ashish Malik, UNSW Sydney (Co-Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Management Reviews); Prof. Alfred Presbitero, Deakin Business School (Associate Editor, Personnel Review); Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy, University of Colombo (Associate Editor, South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management); Prof. Alex Newman, Melbourne Business School; Prof. Marion Festing, ESCP Business School (German Journal of Human Resource Management); Prof. Helen De Cieri, Monash University (Associate Editor, Human Resource Management Review); Prof. Maral Muratbekova, ESCP Business School (Editor-in-Chief, European Management Journal), and Prof. Roberta Fida, Aston Business School. The discussion gave participants a view on what editors want and what gets a paper rejected – often before it is even read.
About the reasons that papers get rejected, Prof. Roberta Fida highlighted two clear deal-breakers: misalignment between research question and methodology, and weak theoretical contribution. Prof. Ashish Malik flagged another common pitfall: papers that are “too descriptive, with bloated literature reviews and thin discussions”. Prof. Alex Newman offered a practical fix theorized around the five W’s, "whether, why, whom, when and where”, which, according to him, “make life easy."
The speakers also recommended steps to avoid mistakes leading to desk rejection. Prof. Helen De Cieri pointed out, "It has to pass the 'so what' question to capture our attention on the title, abstract and front page." Prof. Alfred Presbitero reminded the researchers that mis-formatted abstracts and poor journal fit are red flags that editors spot immediately. Prof. Maral Muratbekova cautioned against simultaneous submissions.
AI a tool, not a co-author
Most of the panelists agreed on the fact that AI has a place, but not as a ghostwriter. "AI cannot be an author of your paper. It cannot substitute you", stated Prof. Roberta Fida. Prof. Marion Festing drew attention to the need for full transparency in declaring AI use, while Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy reminded both authors and reviewers that uploading unpublished work to AI tools is a breach of copyright, and highlighted the importance of adhering to journal policies, especially around the ethical use of AI. Prof. Alex Newman shared an example where a paper rejected after fake AI-generated references was found in the response letter.
Opening remarks
Prof. Sushanta K Mishra, during his welcome address, stated that for five decades IIM Bangalore has been committed to creating knowledge that “informs, serves and saves society”. He added, “Academics and research can drive positive impact. During this summit, we will see around 400 research presentations and 50 poster presentations. So, let us learn and grow together, and initiate conversations that can have meaningful impact on society.”
Prof. Pawan Budhwar informed that HRIC 2026 is the largest such summit till now in terms of the number of presentations and submissions, and because of the diversity. Discussing the importance of such a conference, he said, “We all know that there are significant risks involving use of technology, which in turn have implications on not only industry, but on education as well. Using AI in a responsible way is the need of the hour. HR is helping us manoeuvre all such challenges. On the positive side, we see technology as a benefactor in the areas of health, efficiency, reach and impact. The researchers can take the agenda forward. There is a fascinating mix of scholars here. The conference will offer you industry engagement and networking opportunities – you can have serious discussions, interact, network and have fun in the process.”
Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Professor In-charge, New Campus and faculty of the Strategy area of IIM Bangalore, spoke about IIM Bangalore and its initiatives since it was founded, from its focus on the public sector to being a centre for multidisciplinary studies, as well as its high rankings in global surveys, for which he lauded the efforts of the Institute’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Highlighting the managerial skills required in the era of AI, he said, “AI can solve efficiency-related problems in organizations, but the creative potential of humans, thoughtfulness and ingenuity can differentiate the business. We have a tendency to undervalue the importance of HRM, which needs to be changed. I urge you all to take this challenge of revitalizing Human Resources in India.”
Other than the inaugural session, panel discussion and keynote addresses, the first day of the summit also comprised paper presentations, workshop/symposia, poster presentation and a cultural program.
Pre-conference sessions
Pre-conference activities were held on 8th April 2026. The highlights were the Pre-Conference Doctoral Colloquium (consisting of sessions on Crafting a Journal Paper, Crafting your Career, Roundtable Discussions about Research and Meet the Editors) and the Pre-Conference Early Career Researchers Workshop (including sessions on Developing a Research Programme, How to Write a Review Paper, Reviewing & Responding to Review, Roundtable Discussions About Research - Feedback on Proposals, Enhancing Grants Bidding Capability and Meet the Editors).
What is in store
Day Two will include paper presentations, panel discussions on, ‘Building a Resilient Talent Strategy for GCCs’ and ‘Formalizing the Informal: HRM/OD in Non-traditional Contexts’, poster presentation and a cultural program.
Day Three will see the conference concluding with more paper presentations, the valedictory and the awards ceremony.
Conference tracks
The Conference Tracks include Digital Transformation in HRM; Future of Work and HR; Employee Safety, Well-Being and Mental Health; Entrepreneurship and HRM; Role of HR in Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Talent Management and Succession Planning; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and Indigenous Knowledge System and HR. Also included are Poster Presentations and Doctoral Submission.
HRIC 2026 is the perfect forum to redirect conversations toward disruption brought about by Artificial Intelligence, to rethink sustainability in HRM and help stakeholders navigate the impact.
Click here for pre-conference details.
Click here for photo gallery.
Click here for details of Day 2 of HRIC 2026
Click here for details of Day 3 of HRIC 2026
Reimagining HRM practices amid technological advancement: Sixth Human Resources International Conference commences at IIMB
The conference themed on: ‘Sustainable Human Resource Management in the Age of Disruption’ has been organized by the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management
9 April, 2026, Bengaluru: The sixth Human Resources International Conference (HRIC), organized by the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management (AOM), commenced at IIM Bangalore earlier today, during a day full of discussions on balancing organizational agility, employee well-being and long-term sustainability amid technological shifts. The global summit on the theme, ‘Sustainable Human Resource Management in the Age of Disruption’, is being held at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) from 9th to 11th April 2026, and will see focused sessions on AI’s profound and evolving impact on work and workforces. The academic gathering was previously held in China, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa. For more details, please visit: https://www.iimb.ac.in/hric2026/index.php
HRIC 2026 is ideal for academics, practitioners and doctoral as well as other students who can share their insights, research and expertise to reflect on the future of HR in an era defined by technological transformation and workplace disruption. It aims to reimagine Human Resource Management (HRM) practices that respond not only to the opportunities presented by technological advancement, but also to the human and ethical challenges they pose.
The Conference Conveners are Prof. Pawan Budhwar, Aston University, Birmingham, UK; Prof. Arup Varma, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago, and Prof. Sushanta K Mishra, Chairperson, Research & Publications, C-DOCTA and Centre for Teaching & Learning, Editor-in-Chief, IIMB Management Review, and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area, IIM Bangalore.
Keynotes addresses
Insightful keynote addresses by industry stalwarts set the tone for HRIC 2026.
Saugata Gupta (PGP 1991 alumnus), Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Marico Limited, focused his talk on how organizations can navigate, build, lead and stay ahead in the face of disruption.
“We often think that we can do better in a certain situation, and potentially we can, once we take a decisive step in our own field.” Pointing out that change is a constant in the world we are living in, he added that talent alone may not help one attain one’s full potential, always. “Mentorship, support, access, etc. play a key role too. Although India is a country full of potential, not all talent gets nurtured. Organizations need to build systems to ensure sustained capability – they have to build, renew and scale human capability. Moreover, current challenges include geopolitical volatility, generational change and exponential technological advancement. Although there is nothing new about uncertainty, the complexities have increased. Organizations need to rethink, adapt and shape the workforce and marketplace accordingly.”
He also spoke of internal expectations from organizations and said companies need to be more humane. “Being part of the Shadow a Leader initiative at IIM Bangalore as a mentor taught me that learning is a two-way process. Organizations have to be listening to gain insight. They have to gain the trust of employees by giving them more agency.”
Saugata Gupta prescribed five key measures that organizations can adopt to achieve the desired results, including, upskilling and reskilling, building future leaders, investing in talent pool, adopting sustainable HR approaches such as inclusion, and fostering employee wellbeing and purpose. “Leaders must step up – in the sphere of systems they build, culture they foster and opportunities they create – which will help them shape their organizations, creating a high-performing and engaged workforce.”
Saugata Gupta’s talk was followed by a Q&A session, during which he observed that in his industry, use of AI creates bandwidth, capability and helps accelerate operations. “Although AI drives better decision making, speed and efficiency in my own organization, it cannot replace the element of experience behind taking the right decisions.” He also discussed the importance of culture and values of organizations as well as personal peace and happiness.
Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Faculty and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area of IIMB, felicitated Saugata Gupta.
The other address by Swapna Bapat, MD and VP – India and SAARC, Palo Alto Networks, who is an alumna of the ‘Tanmatra – Women in Leadership Programme’ of IIMB, described the process of evolution of multinationals in our country – from being back-office centres to strategic hubs in diverse business functions – side-by-side her own career trajectory.
“Indian multinationals are now transformation hubs, engaged from execution to definition, shaping international economics. That shift involves thinking in terms of ownership, about what to build and how to build, and depends on the MNC’s leadership locally.”
Talking about technology focus, she said, “AI has changed the way we work. There is immense improvement in productivity. In terms of my own organization, it has made hiring talent from tier 2 and 3 cities possible and beneficial as these employees are extremely motivated to meet the needs of any company in the world, and contribute to the success of MNCs substantially. Technology has now made it possible to work from any location or device. Some of the women employees from such locations have themselves progressed and contributed to organizational success in leaps and bounds, thanks again to technology.” She also made mention of supportive government measures such as the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which is India's landmark legislation governing processing of digital personal data, ensuring user consent and privacy while allowing lawful usage. “These measures are vital for ensuring accountability. It shows that companies based in India and MNCs know how to handle data.”
“AI is resulting in drastic changes which are happening very fast. Core innovation is what AI is enabling – helping shape companies which are headquartered in India and multinational in nature.”
During the Q&A session following her talk, Swapna Bapat spoke appreciatively of Gen Z, stating that they are driven and are fast learners, who can be groomed to become assets in any organization. “Companies need to learn how to handle them and take their productivity to greater heights. In my own organization too, we have programs to groom them and they come out very evolved and professional.”
Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Dean, Alumni Relations & Development and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area of IIMB, felicitated Swapna Bapat.
Panel discussion: Meet the Editors
Day One of HRIC 2026 wrapped up with a panel discussion bringing together editors from leading international HR and management journals. The session, moderated by Prof. Pawan Budhwar (Co-Editor-in-Chief, Human Resource Management Journal ), featured Prof. Ashish Malik, UNSW Sydney (Co-Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Management Reviews); Prof. Alfred Presbitero, Deakin Business School (Associate Editor, Personnel Review); Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy, University of Colombo (Associate Editor, South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management); Prof. Alex Newman, Melbourne Business School; Prof. Marion Festing, ESCP Business School (German Journal of Human Resource Management); Prof. Helen De Cieri, Monash University (Associate Editor, Human Resource Management Review); Prof. Maral Muratbekova, ESCP Business School (Editor-in-Chief, European Management Journal), and Prof. Roberta Fida, Aston Business School. The discussion gave participants a view on what editors want and what gets a paper rejected – often before it is even read.
About the reasons that papers get rejected, Prof. Roberta Fida highlighted two clear deal-breakers: misalignment between research question and methodology, and weak theoretical contribution. Prof. Ashish Malik flagged another common pitfall: papers that are “too descriptive, with bloated literature reviews and thin discussions”. Prof. Alex Newman offered a practical fix theorized around the five W’s, "whether, why, whom, when and where”, which, according to him, “make life easy."
The speakers also recommended steps to avoid mistakes leading to desk rejection. Prof. Helen De Cieri pointed out, "It has to pass the 'so what' question to capture our attention on the title, abstract and front page." Prof. Alfred Presbitero reminded the researchers that mis-formatted abstracts and poor journal fit are red flags that editors spot immediately. Prof. Maral Muratbekova cautioned against simultaneous submissions.
AI a tool, not a co-author
Most of the panelists agreed on the fact that AI has a place, but not as a ghostwriter. "AI cannot be an author of your paper. It cannot substitute you", stated Prof. Roberta Fida. Prof. Marion Festing drew attention to the need for full transparency in declaring AI use, while Prof. Pavithra Kailasapathy reminded both authors and reviewers that uploading unpublished work to AI tools is a breach of copyright, and highlighted the importance of adhering to journal policies, especially around the ethical use of AI. Prof. Alex Newman shared an example where a paper rejected after fake AI-generated references was found in the response letter.
Opening remarks
Prof. Sushanta K Mishra, during his welcome address, stated that for five decades IIM Bangalore has been committed to creating knowledge that “informs, serves and saves society”. He added, “Academics and research can drive positive impact. During this summit, we will see around 400 research presentations and 50 poster presentations. So, let us learn and grow together, and initiate conversations that can have meaningful impact on society.”
Prof. Pawan Budhwar informed that HRIC 2026 is the largest such summit till now in terms of the number of presentations and submissions, and because of the diversity. Discussing the importance of such a conference, he said, “We all know that there are significant risks involving use of technology, which in turn have implications on not only industry, but on education as well. Using AI in a responsible way is the need of the hour. HR is helping us manoeuvre all such challenges. On the positive side, we see technology as a benefactor in the areas of health, efficiency, reach and impact. The researchers can take the agenda forward. There is a fascinating mix of scholars here. The conference will offer you industry engagement and networking opportunities – you can have serious discussions, interact, network and have fun in the process.”
Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Professor In-charge, New Campus and faculty of the Strategy area of IIM Bangalore, spoke about IIM Bangalore and its initiatives since it was founded, from its focus on the public sector to being a centre for multidisciplinary studies, as well as its high rankings in global surveys, for which he lauded the efforts of the Institute’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Highlighting the managerial skills required in the era of AI, he said, “AI can solve efficiency-related problems in organizations, but the creative potential of humans, thoughtfulness and ingenuity can differentiate the business. We have a tendency to undervalue the importance of HRM, which needs to be changed. I urge you all to take this challenge of revitalizing Human Resources in India.”
Other than the inaugural session, panel discussion and keynote addresses, the first day of the summit also comprised paper presentations, workshop/symposia, poster presentation and a cultural program.
Pre-conference sessions
Pre-conference activities were held on 8th April 2026. The highlights were the Pre-Conference Doctoral Colloquium (consisting of sessions on Crafting a Journal Paper, Crafting your Career, Roundtable Discussions about Research and Meet the Editors) and the Pre-Conference Early Career Researchers Workshop (including sessions on Developing a Research Programme, How to Write a Review Paper, Reviewing & Responding to Review, Roundtable Discussions About Research - Feedback on Proposals, Enhancing Grants Bidding Capability and Meet the Editors).
What is in store
Day Two will include paper presentations, panel discussions on, ‘Building a Resilient Talent Strategy for GCCs’ and ‘Formalizing the Informal: HRM/OD in Non-traditional Contexts’, poster presentation and a cultural program.
Day Three will see the conference concluding with more paper presentations, the valedictory and the awards ceremony.
Conference tracks
The Conference Tracks include Digital Transformation in HRM; Future of Work and HR; Employee Safety, Well-Being and Mental Health; Entrepreneurship and HRM; Role of HR in Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Talent Management and Succession Planning; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and Indigenous Knowledge System and HR. Also included are Poster Presentations and Doctoral Submission.
HRIC 2026 is the perfect forum to redirect conversations toward disruption brought about by Artificial Intelligence, to rethink sustainability in HRM and help stakeholders navigate the impact.
Click here for pre-conference details.
Click here for photo gallery.
Click here for details of Day 2 of HRIC 2026
Click here for details of Day 3 of HRIC 2026