By: Dr. Stephanie Diana Eubank DBA 

I am excited to announce that I will be presenting at the Multidisciplinary Conference on Business, Economics, Strategy, and Technology (BEST Conference 2026), taking place online October 20–22, 2026. The conference brings together researchers, educators, industry leaders, and professionals to discuss emerging issues in business, strategy, technology, and the future of work. 
 
Registration and conference tickets are still available for those interested in attending this international virtual event. 
 
My presentation will focus on one of the central topics of my post-doctoral research: the Apollo Effect and its implications for team design, leadership, communication, and productivity. 

 
The Apollo Effect originated from the work of Meredith Belbin and challenges the common assumption that assembling the most talented individuals automatically creates the highest-performing team. Research found that groups composed entirely of highly intelligent experts often struggled with collaboration, decision-making, communication, and execution. Rather than producing exceptional outcomes, these dream teams frequently underperformed because members competed for influence, challenged one another excessively, and neglected routine but essential work. 
 
This concept has become increasingly relevant within remote, hybrid, and technology-enabled workplaces. Organizations frequently concentrate on hiring top talent while overlooking the importance of complementary skills, collaboration structures, psychological safety, and intentional team design. 
 
My post-doctoral research examines how the Apollo Effect may influence leadership and followership experiences in modern organizations. Specifically, I am exploring how communication practices, role clarity, team composition, and organizational design affect productivity and employee engagement across workplace modalities. 
 
The discussion builds upon findings from my doctoral dissertation, The Double-Edged Sword: A Study in Remote Work from the Perspectives of Leadership and Followership on the Topics of Communication, Team Design, and Productivity. Through this continuing research, I hope to contribute new insights regarding how organizations can create balanced, high-performing teams without falling into the trap of assuming that expertise alone guarantees success. 
 
If you are interested in leadership, organizational behavior, team development, remote work, innovation, or strategic management, I encourage you to attend BEST Conference 2026. The event offers a valuable opportunity to learn from scholars and practitioners addressing some of the most important challenges facing organizations today. 
 
I look forward to sharing my research and engaging in discussion with colleagues from around the world. 
 

References 

Belbin, R. M. (2010). Management teams: Why they succeed or fail. Butterworth-Heinemann. 

Eubank, S. D. (2025). The Double-Edged Sword: A Study in Remote Work from the Perspectives of Leadership and Followership on the Topics of Communication, Team Design, and Productivity. Concordia University Chicago. 

BEST Conference. (2026). Multidisciplinary Conference on Business, Economics, Strategy, and Technology (BEST Conference 2026), October 20–22, 2026. 

Book Information  
Remote Work Is Here to Stay: Rethinking Operations Management in the Modern Work Era  
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H5BPJCHJ  

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Email: Drstephaniedeubank@wickedbofthewestconsulting.com or stephaniedeubank@gmail.com   

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New Website: wickedbofthewestconsulting.com  

Also, be sure to check out my first textbook on Operations Management. The book is titled “Remote Work Is Here to Stay: Rethinking Operations Management in the Modern Work Era.” You can purchase the textbook on Amazon at the link below.