Elena Dalpiaz

Elena Dalpiaz is a full Professor of Management and Organization at the Faculty of Economics, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), where she is affiliated with the Institute of Management and Organization (IMO). Prior to joining USI, she was an Associate Professor of Strategy at Imperial College Business School in London, UK. She holds a PhD in Business Administration from Bocconi University and has been a visiting scholar at McCombs Business School (UT Austin, USA) and Alberta School of Business (Canada).

Her research centers on symbolic resources—including legitimacy, identity, history, traditions, and narratives—and their role in organizational change and market creation. Her work bridges institutional theory, strategic management, and entrepreneurship, focusing on how organizations construct meaning and legitimacy in dynamic environments.

Elena's research has been published in top-tier journals such as Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. The themes across her recent publications highlight a consistent focus on identity dynamics, narrative construction, institutional entrepreneurship, and the interplay between tradition and innovation in strategic renewal.

• Associate Editor, Journal of Management Studies
• Editorial Board Member, Academy of Management Journal
• Editorial Board Member, Organization Theory
• Editorial Board Member, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal

She advises doctoral students and contributes to academic leadership through editorial roles and research mentorship. While specific grant information is not provided, her publication record in premier journals suggests sustained research funding and collaborative projects. She is actively engaged in advancing theoretical and empirical understanding of symbolic dimensions in management and strategy.

Elena conducts her research within the Institute of Management and Organization (IMO) at USI, a center dedicated to high-impact research in management, organizational behavior, and strategic leadership. The institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and supports doctoral training and international academic exchange.