Strathclyde Business School hosts memorable IMP conference
Dinner at Winter Gardens, People's Palace
The Department of Marketing hosted a very successful IMP (Industrial Marketing and Purchasing) Conference this month, attended by over 250 delegates from 26 countries.
The 27th annual conference, August 30 to September 3, was always going to be seen as the high point of the Department of Marketing's 40th Anniversary celebrations, and was the first IMP Conference to be held in Scotland. Its theme was "The Impact of Globalisation on Networks and Relationship Dynamics."
The annual IMP conference is the largest international gathering of researchers and instructors in the field of business marketing and purchasing, drawing participants from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The conference tracks dealt with both traditional IMP research themes as well as topics of strong current interests such as sustainable development, environmental issues and the impact of developments in IT on business activity. There were seven parallel tracks, encompassing 191 papers in total over the duration of the conference.
Delegates were received at the City Chambers on the first day of the conference and welcomed by the Dean of Strathclyde Business School, Professor Susan Hart. Strathclyde University Principal, Professor Jim McDonald, formally opened the conference the following day, September 1.
The conference started with the traditional annual two day doctoral consortium which was held in the business school and attended by 14 PhD students. A Welcome Reception was held in the city chambers, courtesy of Glasgow City Council, to mark the end of the Doctoral Consortium and the start of the main conference. Baillie James Scanlon, on behalf of the City of Glasgow, welcomed the 254 attendees from 26 countries. As conference chair, Professor Stan Paliwoda responded on behalf of the conference delegates.
Ian Irvine, Technical Director, Sgurr Energy, and Gordon McGregor, energy & environment director, Scottish Power Renewables, were two specially invited guest speakers.
A highlight of the conference was the 'Meet the Editors' session, in which eight international journal editors participated, and organised by Professor Michael Baker, Emeritus Professor of Marketing, and Dr Beverly Wagner, Department of Marketing.
Delegates were also able to enjoy several social events set up during the programme. On September 1 the conference delegates visited the Winter Gardens at the People's Palace and were entertained on arrival by the Astrid Quartet. The Conference Banquet Dinner and Ceilidh took place the following evening in the Old Fruitmarket in Candleriggs, Glasgow.
Professor Stan Paliwoda, a veteran of many IMP Conferences, described the event as 'a tremendous success' – a view echoed by the glowing feedback of many delegates.
