Xi Wen (Carys) Chan, Griffith University

Shea Fan, Deakin University

Graham Dwyer, The University of Dublin

Margaret A. Shaffer, University of Oklahoma

Contemporary organisations increasingly face conditions of extremity, from acute crises and disasters to the mundane extremity embedded in everyday operations. While existing research examines extreme events in specific contexts, there is a lack of conceptual foundations understanding how extremity manifests, evolves, and impacts organisations holistically beyond extreme contexts research.

This special issue aims to consolidate knowledge across human resource management, psychology, organisational behaviour and other fields to develop frameworks for understanding extremity from different standpoints with different disciplines. The issue will establish extremity as an emerging domain of inquiry to provide conceptual foundations with practical implications for managing high-stakes environments.

The special issue welcomes papers that conceptualise extremity from diverse theoretical perspectives, examine processes through which organisations and individuals cope with extreme conditions, explore the role of technology in creating or mitigating extremity, and analyse how extremity manifests across occupational contexts. Conceptual papers only are accepted; empirical and review papers will not be considered.

A two-step submission process is implemented. Interested authors should first submit abstracts (maximum 500 words) to the Lead Guest Editor. Selected authors will then be invited to submit full papers. This approach ensures alignment with the special issue's conceptual focus and allows for early developmental feedback.

Potential topics

• Conceptualising extremity in an organisational context - theoretical clarity to the construct of extremity, attributes that render phenomena extreme, boundaries of extremity, diverse theoretical perspectives, equivocality and its effects on individuals and groups, ambiguity and improvisation, sensemaking in breached or disrupted circumstances
• Processes or mechanisms that organisations use to cope with extremity - individual and group responses, adaptation in the moment, improvisation as catalyst for transformation, theoretical understanding of coping, adjustment and organisational transformation in face of extremity
• The impact of extremity on individuals - cognition, behaviour, embodied reactions, wellbeing and performance under extremity, individual coping mechanisms, novel sensemaking and leverage of challenges
• Conceptualising extremity in occupational contexts - distinctive manifestations across occupational domains, extremity as part of everyday and mundane contexts, occupational-specific theoretical understanding
• Extremity caused by advanced technologies - relationship between technology and extremity, technological change reshaping work intensity and performance, AI and innovation effects, blurred boundaries between extreme and normal

Timeline

• January 30, 2026: Closing date for abstract submission
• September 30, 2026: Closing date for manuscripts submission