eam2h@ou.edu
(405) 325-1638
LinkedIn Profile
Eduardo Meléndez is a Ph.D. candidate in the Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at the University of Oklahoma's Michael F. Price College of Business. His research examines how entrepreneurial actors shape market categories by analyzing the sociocognitive and sociocultural mechanisms and dynamics—particularly interactions with audiences—through which entrepreneurial activities drive category emergence and evolution. To study these processes, he uses both qualitative and quantitative methods.
His dissertation advances this agenda through three studies: a systematic review of market categorization research, a historical case study on the evolution of electronic dance music, and a quantitative analysis using generalized simultaneous equation modeling to test how prototype experimentation drives a category’s market traction.
Prior to academia, Eduardo accumulated 14 years of entrepreneurial and corporate experience. He founded a social venture in the sports sector, established a financial services firm, and served as a C-level executive position in one of Ecuador’s leading business conglomerates.
Meléndez, E., Wood, M. S., & Navis, C. (2025). A Review of Market Categorization Research: An Evolutionary Framework Across Perspectives and Stages. Journal of Management, 01492063251351911. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063251351911
Lumpkin G. T., Meléndez, E., & Bacq, S. (2024). Civic wealth creation: Bypassing monopolies through collective action. Academy of Management Perspectives, 38(2), 165-176. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2022.0105
Best Paper Award, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management Conference
Meléndez, E. (2022). Good Soldiers and Good Generals: Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Startups. Academy of Management Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.42
This award is given to the top 10% of accepted papers in the Entrepreneurship Division.
Selected as Top 40 Paper, Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference
Moss, T. W., Dahik, A. C., Meléndez, E., & Casanueva, A. (2025). Entrepreneurial responses to institutional voids through a religious lens: An exploratory study. Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, BCERC Proceedings, forthcoming.
This award is given to the top 15% of accepted papers in the BCERC Conference.
The University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business has experienced significant growth over the past five years, becoming OU’s second-largest college with over 7,000 students. The college offers highly ranked undergraduate, master’s, executive and doctoral programs across six academic divisions. More information is available at price.ou.edu
