ANNOUNCE: 2011 HEIZER DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AWARD

[entrepreneurship-phd at lists.uni-due.de]

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
THE 2011 HEIZER DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AWARD IN NEW ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of the Heizer Doctoral Dissertation Award in New Enterprise Development is to recognize and honor outstanding doctoral research in the area of New Enterprise Development. The principal focus of the Award is on research that deals with the founding, financing, management, growth, and development of high potential new ventures, with venture capital investing, or with corporate entrepreneurship. Dissertations dealing with small high-tech ventures may also qualify for the Heizer Award. Specifically excluded from the Heizer Award are dissertations dealing primarily with small business, family business, minority business, and/or with the support systems (other than venture capital) that help facilitate venture development (see the NFIB Award Call).

The Award itself will consist of a cash prize of USD $2,000 and an Award plaque commemorating the winner's outstanding research effort.

Three criteria will be used to evaluate all Heizer Award entries. They are: (1) The degree to which the entry fits the specific focus of the Heizer Award described above; (2) The overall scholarly quality of the entry and (3) The overall quality and effectiveness of the entry's implications for the practice of new enterprise development as defined above. While scholarly quality and fit will be the deciding factors among eligible submissions, Heizer Award Winners must have well developed implications for practitioners in the area of new enterprise development. Dissertations without such implications cannot win the Heizer Award.

The 2011 Heizer Award is open to authors who in calendar year 2010 have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree, as supported by documentation from the awarding institution. This includes any public defense; coursework; revisions, etc. that are prerequisites for earning the degree. Exempt from this rule is the completion of any academic ceremony of 'graduation' or 'promotion' that is customary but not a requirement for degree completion. In cases where any part of the degree requirements remain unresolved, submission would have to wait until the next year. Apart from evidence of completion, submitters should provide one Ms-Word or PDF copy of a 1 page/500 words Abstract and a 20-page/12,000 words Summary of the dissertation. These page and word limits should be adhered to strictly and includes everything (reference list, figures, tables, appendices, etc.).  Given the award criteria, the Summary must contain a separate, identifiable section discussing the practical implications of the findings. 

Submissions should be sent no later than 5.00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5 hours) February 28, 2011 to the Chair Elect of the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management (Mike Wright, mike.wright at nottingham.ac.uk). Self-nominations are encouraged after consultation with dissertation supervisors.

NB! Authors can submit their work for consideration for only one of the Division's dissertation awards. Thus, those who submit for the Heizer Award cannot simultaneously nominate their work for the National Federation of Independant (NFIB) Doctoral Dissertation Award, and vice versa. It is strictly the submitter's responsibility to submit to the Award which best fits the nominated work. We strongly advise that you read carefully the criteria for each award before making your submission. 

Finalists for the Heizer Award will be notified by early May, 2011. To remain in the competition they will be required to send a full electronic copy of their dissertation in the exact form it was evaluated for the doctoral degree by a (tight) deadline specified at that point. The winner of the Heizer Award will be required to provide two print copies of the dissertation.