معرفی
Dr. James Vardaman serves as Professor and Free Enterprise Chair of Excellence in the Department of Management at the University of Memphis' Fogelman College of Business & Economics, where he also coordinates the PhD program. His primary institutional affiliation centers on advancing management scholarship with particular focus on family business dynamics and organizational behavior.
Dr. Vardaman's research program investigates critical tensions in family enterprises, especially regarding employee retention, succession planning, and reactions to organizational change. He examines how socioemotional wealth considerations impact decision-making, non-family employee integration, and venture performance. His work bridges theoretical organizational behavior frameworks with practical family business challenges, frequently employing socioemotional wealth theory and social exchange perspectives.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on family business governance, with increasing attention to international contexts (notably South African case studies) and psychological factors in entrepreneurial decision-making. His output spans both premier academic journals like Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal and practitioner-focused outlets including Harvard Business Review, demonstrating scholarly rigor with real-world applicability.
Dr. Vardaman's scholarly recognition includes the prestigious Free Enterprise Chair of Excellence and Fellowship in the Southern Management Association. His editorial leadership as Senior Editor of the Journal of Small Business Management and board membership at Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice and Journal of Organizational Behavior further validate his academic standing.
As PhD Program Coordinator, Dr. Vardaman oversees doctoral education in Management while maintaining an active research agenda. His extensive publication record and editorial roles suggest substantial student mentorship opportunities and potential research funding avenues. Prospective students would engage with cutting-edge family business scholarship through his supervision and editorial network.
Though no formal research lab is designated, Dr. Vardaman leads a productive research collective focused on family enterprise dynamics. His collaborative work with international scholars and editorial influence creates unique opportunities for students to engage with global research networks and contribute to high-impact scholarship in organizational behavior and family business studies.
