Shaping Business
& Society

At Smith School of Business we pursue ideas with impact, creating new knowledge that propels business and society forward. Our research culture is both vibrant and highly productive, empowering our researchers to tackle dynamic challenges and to shape a better future. Our faculty are internationally recognized for excellence: among them are researchers in the top 2% of scientists worldwide, Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, editors-in-chief and senior editors of leading journals, and authors of hundreds of articles in top-tier publications.

What makes Smith distinctive is that our research agenda is researcher-led. We trust our faculty, who have been trained at leading institutions worldwide, to identify the questions that matter, and to investigate them with methodological rigor, creativity and intellectual independence. This commitment is reflected in the breadth of our work that cuts across finance, accounting, digital technology, analytics and AI, business economics, organizational behaviour, marketing, strategy and international business.

You can see this range in our recent publications and research features. Our scholars are advancing evidence on the climate transition and decarbonization (e.g., green technology choices and sustainable supply chains), developing data-driven approaches to complex operational and ecological challenges (e.g., dynamic pricing and inventory, managing threatened species), and generating new insights on governance, accountability, and equity in organizations and markets (e.g., CEO responses to activism and shifting social norms). Our “Research in Brief” series further highlights timely work on topics such as gender bias in finance careers, “zombie” companies, and mental health service access.

Our research centres and initiatives amplify this impact by convening scholars with partners and practitioners, including the Institute for Sustainable Finance, the Scotiabank Centre for Analytics & AI, the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Impact, the Healthcare Analytics Initiative, the CPA Ontario Centre for Corporate Reporting and Professionalism and the EDII Initiative. Together, they provide platforms for collaboration, knowledge mobilization and meaningful engagement with business, practice and policy.

This work aligns naturally with Queen’s broader research priorities: pursuing transformational research that matters, leveraging next-generation analytics and computing responsibly, and contributing to productive, inclusive and sustainable societies. It also reflects our commitment to respectful partnerships and to research that supports shared prosperity and evidence-based decision-making.

I invite you to explore our latest research and connect with our scholars. Whether you are a prospective student, collaborator, policy partner or industry leader, we welcome engagement that helps ensure Smith research continues to matter: academically, professionally and societally.