Shelby D. Hunt’s contributions to the marketing discipline: Research programs, impact, and compelling opportunities

This issue of the Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science (JGSMS) is a tribute to the contributions of Shelby D. Hunt to the marketing discipline. There are nine contributions by – Dennis B. Arnett, Vishag Badrinrayanan, Kshitij Bhoumik, Pelin Bicen, Mayukh Dass, Linda Ferrell, O.C. Ferrell, Shelby D. Hunt, Sreedhar Madhavaram, Heejung Park, Mark Peterson, Rajan Vardarajan, and Scott J. Vitell – that not only pay homage to Professor Hunt’s significant contributions, but also make original contributions that can potentially take the marketing discipline forward. Collectively, the contributions from the special issue are unequivocal on the significance of Professor Hunt’s contributions to the marketing discipline with reference to: (i) theory development in marketing, (ii) programmatic research on marketing theory, marketings’ philosophy debates, channels of distribution, macromarketing and ethics, relationship marketing, resource-advantage theory, and marketing management and strategy, (iii) impact on the marketing discipline, (iv) implications for marketing scholarship, pedagogy, and practice, and (v) advancing the marketing discipline. In conclusion, on the foundations of Professor Hunt’s contributions to research on marketing theory, marketing strategy, marketing ethics, macromarketing, resource-advantage theory of competition, and channels of distribution, compelling opportunities are abound for marketing scholarship.