Wided Batat, University of Lyon 2

Boris Bartikowski, Kedge Business School

Zhiyong Yang, Miami University

Kelley Cours Anderson, College of Charleston

Contemporary organizations navigate hybrid work cultures and digital transformation, yet many firms—especially micro enterprises and family businesses—remain in closed ecosystems lacking phygital integration. This special issue explores how phygital leadership, which seamlessly merges physical and digital workplaces, can be adapted across diverse organizational contexts.

Phygital leadership represents a human-first framework emphasizing integration of digital and physical environments. The Phygital Research Paradigm proposes that successful transformation requires identifying enablers such as human capabilities, technological platforms, and material supports to achieve value through seamless transitions between physical and digital modes.

The special issue invites scholars and practitioners to explore phygital leadership's strategic significance and implementation pathways for developing human-centric business models suited to hybrid work cultures, addressing gaps in narrowly focused digital leadership research.

Appel publié par Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l Administration. Voir l'appel sur le site de l'éditeur. Fiche de l'appel sur kerostig.

Potential topics

• Evolution of leadership styles in phygital environments
• Human-centric organizational innovation in the phygital ecosystem
• Dual-plane leadership transformation: physicalization vs. digitalization
• Ethical design and responsible phygital practices
• Stakeholder engagement and phygital value co-creation
• Phygital leadership-driven well-being and social impact
• Phygital workplace culture, equity, and inclusivity
• Technology-human interaction in phygital leadership models
• Strategic implementation and scaling of phygital leadership
• Cognitive and emotional labor of phygital leaders
• The role of data-driven systems and AI tools co-construct leadership decision-making
• Rethinking contemporary competency models for phygital leadership
• Leadership communication and symbolism in the metaverse
• Phygital leadership as a strategic capability in digital transformation

Timeline

• May 15, 2026: Deadline for abstract submission to the APA Summit 2027
• July 10, 2027: Deadline for submitting full manuscripts for the Special Issue