ODC annual conference 2026
Designing for the Unknown
September 30 - October 1st, 2026
The 2026 ODC Annual Conference will be held fully on-line, spread out over two consecutive days: September 30 and October 1. It is co-organized by Özgecan Koçak (Emory University) and Jeroen van Bree (Berenschot & University of Amsterdam). The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Designing for the Unknown’. The unprecedented turbulence that organizations are currently faced with means we have to design for an unknown future. Our hope is that this conference will be a forum for exchange about this pressing issue between academics, practitioners, and executives. On the first day of the conference, we want to explore several developments that are bringing change and uncertainty to organizations, such as the rise of GenAI, geopolitical turbulence, and climate change. On the second day, we want to explore what innovations the field of organization design can bring to address these challenges.
If your organization is sending more than one participant to the conference, we offer two options. One option is to become a corporate member, which offers full access to all the benefits of ODC membership for an unlimited number of members from your organization. The other option is to get a custom discount for this annual conference, based on the number of people from your organization that are signing up. For both options, please contact us at info@orgdesigncomm.com.
Programme
Day 1 (September 30, times below in CET)
3.45-4.00pm: Waiting room
4.00-4.15pm: Opening & community building exercise
4.15-4.55pm: Keynote by Joel Podolny: Designing for the Unknown + Q&A
4.55-5.05pm: Coffee break
5.05-5.50pm: Parallel working groups (choose one during registration)
- Geopolitical turbulence and the impact on business (Henk Volberda)
- GenAI and the Dissolution of Organizational Boundaries (John Joseph)
- Organizational Responses to Climate Change (Garima Sharma)
5.50-6.25pm: Closing panel featuring the working group conveners, moderated by Phanish Puranam (panelists: John Joseph, Henk Volberda, Garima Sharma)
6.25-6.30pm: Thank you and goodbye
6.30-7.00pm: Cocktail room
Day 2 (October 1st, times below in CET)
3.45-4.00pm: Waiting room
4.00-4.15pm: Opening & community building exercise
4.15-4.55pm: Keynote by Melissa Valentine: AI-Powered Organizations: Redefining the Future of Work + Q&A
4.55-5.05pm: Coffee break
5.05-5.50pm: Parallel working groups (choose one during registration)
- Maverick Organizations of the Future (Amy Kates)
- How can we engage human expertise to balance the shortcomings of AI (Chengwei Liu & Anissa Oukhiar)
- Redesigning Structure and Culture for GenAI-Enabled Organizations (Sameer Srivastava)
5.50-6.25pm: Closing panel discussion featuring the working groups conveners, moderated by Martin Gonzalez (panelists: Sameer Srivastava, Amy Kates, Chengwei Liu)
6.25-6.30pm: Thank you and goodbye
6.30-7.00pm: Cocktail room
