• Integrating dispersed teams and roles
• Innovative recruitment and retention strategies
• Motivating team members for exceptional results
• Early stage project planning
• Role and use of research in the product life cycle management process
• Integrating best practices within your product development process
• Collaboration tools and their role in collaboration
• The hidden costs and challenges of implementation
• Selecting the right technological tools for various phases of the product life cycle management process
• Best practices
• Emerging practices

However, papers covering all topics related to product development, new product marketing, and innovation management are also welcome. Papers based on empirical research are especially desired. Papers with a specific intent to promote a company, product, and/or service will not be accepted.

The deadline for paper submission is April 16, 2004; please note that an electronic submission process will be used. Notification of acceptance will be made on or before Friday June 18, 2004. The Research Conference Proceedings Editor must receive final copies of all accepted papers and abstracts by August 6, 2004.
Submission Guidelines:

1. Submit a file containing your manuscript in Word format through email to Professor Albert Page at alp3@uic.edu. Please add in the subject field of your message “2004 PDMA Research Conference.” You can also use this email address for any questions you might have on the research conference.
2. Manuscripts must follow the style guidelines of the Journal of Product Innovation Management (JPIM).
3. Manuscripts must not exceed twenty (20) pages total, including tables, figures, and references.
4. The manuscript should contain the following information on the first page: the title of the manuscript; the name(s) and affiliations of the author(s); address, telephone number, Fax number, and e-mail address for the primary contact person.
5. Do not identify yourself on any page of the manuscript other than the title page; make sure that the summary information contained in the file does not contain any references to you (or your co-authors).
6. Submission of a manuscript indicates that it or a similar version has not been previously published or is simultaneously under review elsewhere. Proceedings of the 2004 PDMA Research Conference will be prepared and made available at the conference. Papers published in the proceedings may still be considered for subsequent publication in JPIM. At least one author of an accepted paper must actually register for the Research Conference session. In case the authors of accepted papers do not want to publish a full version of their work in the proceedings, authors will be asked to provide a 5-page summary of their work.
7. An award for the outstanding paper, as determined by reviewers and the research conference committee, will be given. This award includes a monetary award and a complimentary registration to the 2004 PDMA International Conference.

PDMA was established in 1976 by and for people with a professional interest in product innovation. The association comprises over 2500 members from industry, academia, and consulting organizations from over 30 countries.

For all questions about these submission guidelines and the 2004 Research Conference, please contact the Research Conference Chair:

Albert L. Page, Ph.D.
Managerial Studies Department (MC 243)
601 South Morgan Street
College of Business Administration
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL 60607-7123
Phone: 312-996-6233
Fax: 312-996-3559
E-mail: alp3@uic.edu