Transformation, Opportunities, and Challenges
The International Conference on Smart Organizations (ICSO 2025) explores how artificial intelligence reshapes learning organizations and knowledge-intensive work. We bring together researchers and practitioners across management sciences, information systems, computer science, and social sciences to discuss theory, design, and real-world impact. Topics include: AI-augmented decision making; organizational learning and memory; data governance and ethics; human-AI collaboration; automation and work; platforms and ecosystems; and digital transformation.
ICSO-2025-ANON-<short-title>.pdfICSO-2025-META-<short-title>.(pdf|docx)Send one email to icso2025-submissions@essg-annaba.dz with both attachments:
ICSO-2025-ANON-<short-title>.pdf (the anonymized manuscript)ICSO-2025-META-<short-title>.(pdf|docx) (the author metadata)You’ll receive an automatic acknowledgment with a unique Submission ID (e.g., ICSO-2025-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS-ABCD).
If any file is missing, you’ll receive an automatic “missing file” notice—please resend with the required attachment.
We invite submissions of original papers on topics including but not limited to:
Italy
Professor, department of management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia
Keynote: Embracing Uncertainty — Making organizations and AI more reflective, together
Massimo Warglien (Università Ca' Foscari, Venezia) is a researcher with diverse interests, combining computational modeling, fieldwork, and experimental methods. He has been working for a long time in the Carnegie tradition on routines, habits and organizational learning. A pioneer in artificial intelligence & organization theory, he co-edited one of the first books on the topic decades ago. He has since authored numerous papers using neural networks to model economic and organizational behavior. In the last years, extensive fieldwork in the rainforests of Northeastern India has inspired his research on interaction and organizing processes between humans and plants, and how they learn from each other.More recently, he has been interested in a critical view of LLMs and their use, working with both educational and business organizations. He has published in major scientific journals, including Science, PNAS, Nature Scientific Reports, Management Science, Organization Science, Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, Games and Economic Behavior, Strategy Science, Physica A, Synthèse, Journal of Semantics, Theoretical Linguistics, Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers in Neuroscience. He has held visiting positions in major international universities in Europe, US, and India, including Stanford, Harvard, the University of Michigan, Imperial College, University of Southern Denmark, CNRS Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, JNU Delhi.
Organizations facing radical uncertainty must engage in collective interpretation to construct shared representations of “what is going on here”. I suggest that a parallel paradigm shift is needed in how generative AI and organizations deal with uncertainty, learning to leverage on it rather than avoiding it. I propose to implement such a paradigm shift through the development of interpretive systems making organizations and AI more reflective, together.
Indonesia
Dean of Faculty of Economics and Business and the Head of Islamic Management and Halal Industry Center at Universitas Medan Area
Keynote: Entrepreneurial Mindsets on Business Transformation and Digitalization
Assoc Prof Dr. Ahmad Rafiki is currently as the Dean of Faculty of Economics and Business and the Head of Islamic Management and Halal Industry Center at Universitas Medan Area, Indonesia. Previously he was an Assistant Professor in Department of Business Administration of University College of Bahrain. He obtained his BBA with a major of Marketing from MARA University of Technology (UiTM) and Masters in Management from International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). In 2014, he completed his PhD program from Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM). He is holding Certified Islamic Marketer (CIMA) from the International Islamic Marketing Association (IIMA). He actively engages with other consultation centers as the co-founders and members such as Islamic Management and Education Center, TAIF Digital Institute of Islamic Finance, and the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economist. He is now appointed as Visiting Research Fellow at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).
In the contemporary era of rapid digital transformation, the entrepreneurial mindset has become a central catalyst for business innovation and organizational change. This paper explores how entrepreneurial thinking drives business transformation and digitalization by fostering adaptability, creativity, and opportunity recognition in dynamic environments. Entrepreneurial mindsets enable leaders and organizations to leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and automation to redesign business models and enhance competitiveness. The study emphasizes that successful digital transformation is not merely a technological upgrade but a strategic and cultural shift that requires continuous learning, experimentation, and openness to change. However, challenges such as resistance to innovation, digital skill gaps, and organizational inertia often hinder transformation efforts. By integrating principles of entrepreneurship and learning organization theory, this paper highlights the importance of cultivating entrepreneurial agility, digital literacy, and a culture of innovation as key enablers of sustainable transformation in the digital economy.
Keywords: entrepreneurial mindset, business transformation, digitalization, innovation, learning organization, artificial intelligence.
Palo Alto Networks, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
Keynote: AI as an Organizational Teammate: Designing Smart Systems for Collaborative Intelligence
Mona Rajhans is a Senior Engineering Manager at Palo Alto Networks - The world’s biggest CyberSecurity company, based in Santa Clara. She is leading innovation at the intersection of cybersecurity and intelligent user interfaces. She develops AI-powered defense platforms that transform static dashboards into adaptive, real-time intelligence surfaces. With expertise in large-scale architecture, agentic AI, and front-end performance, she has pioneered advances in AI-assisted analyst workflows, contextual copilots, and secure human-AI collaboration. Passionate about innovation with impact, Mona champions the paradigm of “UI as a defensive surface,” where interface intelligence becomes a core layer of cyber resilience, while mentoring emerging engineering leaders. She holds a M.S. in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology.
As artificial intelligence continues to permeate organizational ecosystems, its role is evolving
from a decision-support tool to a true organizational teammate—one that collaborates, learns,
and adapts alongside humans. The next generation of smart organizations will not merely use
AI but will coexist with it—sharing cognitive load, creativity, and decision-making responsibilities
in dynamic, context-rich environments.
This keynote explores how organizations can design and operationalize AI systems that
enhance—not replace—human capabilities. Drawing from real-world implementations in
cybersecurity, knowledge management, and adaptive user interfaces, the talk highlights
frameworks for building collaborative intelligence—where AI copilots, intelligent agents, and
human experts operate as an integrated, self-improving team.
Canada, Africa, and the Middle East
International Branding and Communication Consultant
Keynote: Brand Intelligence: Building Human-Centric Organizations in the Age of AI
Amokrane Mariche is an international branding and communication consultant with over 15 years of experience helping organizations and leaders elevate their visibility and impact. Former Marketing Lead for Nike North Africa, where his team won the Best Marketing Team in Africa Award, he now works with startups, SMEs, and institutions across Canada, Africa, and the Middle East. As a speaker, trainer, and community builder, he bridges branding, technology, and human connection, empowering organizations to transform with purpose in the digital age.
As artificial intelligence and automation reshape business models, organizations face a deeper challenge: preserving identity, trust, and human connection in an increasingly digital world.
This session explores how branding, communication, and leadership culture can drive sustainable digital transformation. Drawing on 15+ years of experience across Africa and Canada, Amokrane Mariche demonstrates how companies can align technology adoption with brand purpose, employee engagement, and stakeholder communication. Participants will discover actionable ways to build “brand intelligence” — combining data, authenticity, and storytelling to create agile, human-centred organizations ready for the AI era.
The first day of ICSO 2025 is dedicated to academia, scientific discovery, and the future of organizational intelligence in the AI era.
It will feature keynote speeches, research presentations, and academic discussions highlighting emerging theories, digital learning practices, and innovations in smart organizations.
A unique platform to exchange knowledge and push forward the frontiers of AI-enabled learning and management systems.
The second day focuses on industry, entrepreneurship, and real-world innovation.
Executives, practitioners, and startup leaders will showcase how AI, data, and automation are reshaping organizational performance and business models.
Interactive panels and workshops will explore practical strategies for digital transformation and AI deployment across sectors.
Touristic tour and social event will be announced later.
Honorary Conference Chair
Higher School of Management Sciences – Annaba, Algeria
Conference Chair
Higher School of Management Sciences – Annaba, Algeria
Conference Chair
Higher School of Management Sciences – Annaba, Algeria
Organizing Committee Chair
Higher School of Management Sciences – Annaba, Algeria
Organizing Committee Chair
Higher School of Management Sciences – Annaba, Algeria
Technical Program Committee Chair
Higher School of Management Sciences – Annaba, Algeria
Soon
ESSG Annaba, Algeria
Annaba is a vibrant Mediterranean city in northeastern Algeria, known for its beautiful coastline, ancient heritage at Hippo Regius, and lively waterfront. The city offers welcoming hospitality, a mild climate in December, and convenient access to hotels, cafés, and cultural sites near the conference venue.
Open in Maps