An insider’s guide to getting published in research journals

• David Weir• Professor of Management, CERAM, France • Visiting Professor in Management Development,

Lancaster University, UK• Senior Academic Advisor to the Emerald Group

dweir@runbox.com+33 4 9395 4576+33 4 9295 1331

Emerald Group Publishing – company background

• Emerald Group Publishing Limited (formerly MCB University Press)

• Founded in 1967 in Bradford, West Yorkshire• Over 150 employees. Offices in China, Malaysia, Australia,

Japan• 1996 launched the Emerald Fulltext database• 2005 launch of Emerald Management Xtra – developed

with and for business schools• As a publisher we are …

– International – Inclusive (theory and practice, rigour and relevance) – Supportive of scholarly research– Committed to improve author, reader and customer

experience

The Emerald portfolioJournals:• 120+ business and management; 19 library and information science.• 15 engineering, mathematical and materials science journals.• 36 journals are ISI-ranked. • Almost all are peer reviewed (normally double blind), except

practitioner titles.

Electronic databases:• Emerald Fulltext• Emerald Management Reviews – e.g. Harvard Business Review, MIS

Quarterly• Emerald Abstracts – e.g. Computer Abstracts International Database• ManagementFirst.com• Emerald Management Xtra

Coverage:• Over 1,400 university libraries worldwide, including 96 of the FT top

100 business schools (2006 figures). Potential readership of 15 million.

Research

Editorial supply chain and journal management

structureAuthor

EditorManaging editor Productio

nUsers

Quality research papers

EAB and reviewers

Solicits new papers

Handles review process

Promotes journal to peers

Attends conferences

Develops new areas of coverage

The link between the publisher and the editor

Helps editors succeed in their role and build a first class journal

Overall responsibility for journal

Promotion and marketing

Attends conferences

Handles production issues

QA – sub-editing and proof reading

Convert to SGML for online databases

Print production

Despatch

Added value from publisher

Access via library

Hard copy

Database

Third party

Online usage and dissemination of authors’

work

• 62,000 articles online, over 12 years of content

• 9,000 abstracts from 1989-1994• 7.2 million downloads per year• 600,000 articles are downloaded each month• 86 per cent of usage occurs outside the UK

Being published means…

• Your paper is permanent – published material enters a permanent and accessible knowledge archive – the “body of knowledge”.

• Your paper is improved – through the interventions of editors, reviewers, sub-editors and proof-readers.

• Your paper is actively promoted - it becomes available to a far greater audience.

• Your writing is trustworthy – material which has been published carries a QA stamp. Someone apart from the author thinks it’s good.

Ideas: where to start• As well as ‘traditional’ research…• Are you working on a Doctoral or Master’s thesis?• Have you completed a project which concluded

successfully?• Are you wrestling with a problem with no clear

solution?• Do you have an opinion or observation on a subject?• Have you given a presentation or conference paper?• If so, you have the basis for a publishable paper.

Target!“Many papers are rejected simply because they don’t fulfil

journal requirements. They don’t even go into the review process.”

• Identify a few possible target journals but be realistic.• Follow the Author Guidelines – scope, type of paper, word

length, references style, etc.• Find where to send your paper (editor, regional editor, subject

area editor). Check a copy of the journal or the publisher’s web site.

• Send an outline or abstract and ask if this looks suitable and interesting (or how it could be made so).

• Confirm how an editor would like a submission, e.g. e-mail; hard copy.

• Read at least one issue of the journal – visit your library for access.

Example of author guidelines

Every journal published will have detailed

noted and guidelines

Editors and reviewers look for …

• Originality – what’s new about subject, treatment or results

• Relevance to and extension of existing knowledge• Research methodology – are conclusions valid and

objective?• Clarity, structure and quality of writing – does it

communicate well?• Sound, logical progression of argument• Theoretical and practical implications (the “so what”

factors!)• Recency and relevance of references• Adherence to the editorial scope and objectives of

the journal

Some essentials of a research paper

• Purpose of the paper/Introduction• Research methodology used – the “whys and

hows”• Literature review – critical examination of what

has gone before• References should be:

– complete– consistent with the style used in the journal – included in the list (anything not cited can be listed as

further reading)• Argument and findings• Conclusion should – restate the purpose,

encapsulate the main findings and include the most interesting bits

Emerald has introduced structured abstracts

• A structured abstract – in 250 (no more than 100 in any one section) words or less

• Purpose – Reasons/aims of paper• Design – Methodology/’how it was done’/scope of

study• Findings – Discussion/results• Research limitations/Implications –

Exclusions/next steps • Practical implications – Applications to

practice/’So what?’• Originality/value – Who would benefit from this

and what is new about it

Some key questions• Readability - Does it communicate? Is it clear? Is

there a logical progression without unnecessary duplication?

• Originality - Why was it written? What’s new?• Credibility - Are the conclusions valid? Is the

methodology robust? Can it be replicated? Is it honest – don’t hide any limitations of the research? You’ll be found out.

• Applicability - How do findings apply to the world of practice? Does it pinpoint the way forward for future research?

• Internationality - Does it take an international, global perspective?

Your own peer review• Let someone else see it - Show a draft to one

or more friends or colleagues and ask for their comments, advice and honest criticism.

• We are always too close to our own work to see its failings.

• Always proof-check thoroughly – no incorrect spellings, no incomplete references. Spell checkers are not fool-proof.

• Remember to check the very familiar things EG: Leads Metropolitan University!

• (Correct title is Leeds Metropolitan University)

Co-authorship as a possibility• With supervisor, across departments, someone from a

different institution• Ensure paper is checked and edited so that it reads as

one voice• Exploit your individual strengths• Specially useful for cross-disciplinary research• Demonstrates the authority and rigour of the research• Agree and clarify order of appearance of authors and

the person taking on the role of corresponding author

Improve electronic dissemination by …

• Using short descriptive titles containing main keyword – don’t mislead

• Writing a clear and descriptive abstract containing the main keywords and following any instructions as to content and length

• Providing relevant and known keywords - not obscure new jargon

• Making your references complete and correct – vital for reference linking and citation indices

• Ensuring your paper is word-perfect

Revising• A request for revision is good news! It

really is.• You are half-way there• You are now in the publishing cycle. Nearly

every published paper is revised at least once.

• Don’t panic!• Even if the comments are sharp

or discouraging, they aren’t personal.• Now you are on your way

Keep your promises!

• Now you are on your way• But, now you have to keep to the

editor’s proposed timetable• Don’t promise a date that is too soon to

enable you to rework the paper properly• But if you can get it in earlier, you may

“delight” the editor• Delighted editors will ask you back

Process of acceptance for a journal – just

one example

How to revise your paper

• Acknowledge the editor and set a revision deadline

• Clarify understanding if in doubt - “This is what I understand the comments to mean…”

• Consult with colleagues or co-authors and tend to the points as requested

• Meet the revision deadline• Attach a covering letter which identifies, point

by point, how revision requests have been met (or if not, why not)

If your paper is rejected…• Ask why, and listen carefully!

Most editors will give detailed comments about a rejected paper. Take a deep breath, and listen to what is being said.

• Try again!Try to improve the paper, and re-submit elsewhere. Do your homework and target your paper as closely as possible.

• Don’t give up!At least 50 per cent of papers in business and management don’t get published. Everybody has been rejected at least once. Even some very Top Names.

• Keep trying!

The Emerald Literati Network • More than 30,000 authors worldwide are

members – a huge ‘expert network’• Authors’ Charter – uniquely provides authors with

a range of benefits and sets out levels of service• Complimentary journal issue and five reprints

upon publication• Calls for Papers and news of publishing

opportunities• Editing service• Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards• Annual Awards for Excellence

Emerald Management Xtra – authors’ resources

•Comprehensive help and advice every step of the way

•How to… guides

•Meet the Editor interviews and editor news

•Premium help with placing your paper for publication

•Publishing opportunities and Calls for Papers

Talk to us, use us!• Tell us how we can help you – talk to

us, give us ideas• Use the Emerald database• Use Emerald Management Xtra• Use the Emerald Literati Network• Register with the Emerald

Connections• Write for us!

Now for a personal example

• David’s recent and current writing programme

David Weir’s current writing

• Abu-Doleh,J. and Weir, D.T.H Dimensions of Performance Appraisal Systems in Jordanian Private and Public Organisations: International Journal of Human Resource Management: in press: Spring 2007

• Weir, D,T.H.,. James, J., Introduction to the Special Edition on Poetry and Management, Management Decision, Vol. 44, Issue 4, Special issue: POEME , June 2006

• Weir, D.T.H, Hutchings, K, Guanxi and Wasta: A comparison, Thunderbird International Business Review, Vol. 48, Issue 1 , pp, 141-156, January/February 2006

• Weir, D.T.H, Hutchings, K., Issue Edited by D. Weir & K. Hutchings , Introduction to the Special issue -Journeys Along the Silk Road: Intercultural Approaches to Comparative Business Systems and Practices, Thunderbird International Business Review, Vol. 48, Issue 1 , pp, 1-8, January/February 2006

• Weir, D.T.H, Demirbag, M., Issue Edited by D. Weir & K. Hutchings , Resources and Equity Ownership in International Joint Ventures: An empirical analysis of IJVs in Turkey, Thunderbird International Business Review, Vol. 48, Issue 1, pp. 55-76, January/February 2006

• Weir, D.T.H. “Sequences of failure in complex socio-technical systems: Some implications of decision and control”, KYBERNETES: Special Issue: Tribute to Stafford Beer, Vol. 33, N°3/4, 2004 pp. 522-537

David Weir’s current writing

• Weir, D.T.H. “Sequences of failure in Complex Socio-technical systems”, Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management, Vol. 1, no.1, 2004 pp. 120-130

• Al-Janahi A and Weir, D.T.H. “The role of Islamic Banks in managing corporate turnaround”, Managerial Finance:Vol 34 no4: Spring 2005

• Al-Janahi A and Weir, D.T.H.. “Islamic Banking: a role in economic development”, Thunderbird International Review Special Issue on the Finance of Development: Fall 2005

• Demirbag, M., Mirza, H., and Weir, D.T.H. (2003) Measuring trust, inter-partner conflict and joint-venture performance: Journal of Transnational Management Development: vol 8 no 1, p111-140

• Hutchings K and Weir DTH (2005) Guanxi and Wasta as knowledge management in China and the Arab world: Journal of knowledge and process management: November 2005

• Weir DTH (2005) Ethical, philosophical and sociological foundations of management in the Arab world: Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion vol 1 no 2: January 2005

David Weir’s current writing• Hutchings K and Weir D.T.H. (2006a) Cultural embeddedness and

contextual constraints: Knowledge-sharing in Chinese and Arab countries: Thunderbird International Review: Special Issue on The Silk Road: Vol 48, no 1: January 2006

• Weir, D.T.H and Hutchings, K. (2006b) Cultural filtering in the Arab world and China: exploring the interrelationship of the technological knowledge age and traditional cultural networking and inter[personal connections”: in Van de Bunt-Kohuis, S.G.M. and Bolger,M. (eds) , World-Wide work: Free University of the Netherlands, Amsterdam

• Weir, D.T.H. and Hutchings, K. (2006c) Understanding networking in China and the Arab World: lessons for international Managers: Journal of European Industrial Training: Vol 30, no 4: pp 272-290

• Weir, D.T.H., Hutchings, K., Cultural Filtering in the Arab World and China: Exploring the Interrelationship of the Technological Knowledge Age, Traditional Cultural Networking and Interpersonal Connections, in Van De Bunt-Kokhuis, Sylvia: World Wide Work: Filtering of Online Content in a Globalized World, pp.129-142, VU University Press , Amsterdam, 2006

• Weir, D.T.H. “Disaster Management after September 11: A Normal Accident or a Man-made Disaster?” in Suder, G. (Ed.) Terrorism and the International Business Environment: The Security – Business Nexus. UK / USA: Edward Elgar, 2004

David Weir’s current writing

• Forthcoming Books:• Management in the Arab world: Edward Elgar: late 2007• Critical Management Studies at Work: Multidisciplinary Approaches to

Negotiating Tensions between Theory and Practice: with: Julie Wolfram-Cox, Tony Le-Trent Jones and Maxim Voronov: Edward Elgar: Fall 2007

• Forthcoming Book chapters• Abuznaid, Samir and Weir, David: Dealing with Complexity in the

Multinational Business Environment: Beyond Simplistic Paradigms of Culture, Communication and Control: Some examples from the Arab Middle East: in Strategic Knowledge Management in Multinational Organisations: Edited by Dr Kevin O’Sullivan: forthcoming Spring 2007: Wiley

• Boolaky,M., Gungaphul,M. and Weir,D.T.H: Mauritius: towards a knowledge hub and society: in Hutchings,K. and Mohannak, K.: Knowledge Management in the Developing World: forthcoming Spring 2007: Edward Elgar

• Weir, D.T.H. Knowledge Management in the Arab Middle East: in Hutchings,K. and Mohannak, K.: Knowledge Management in the Developing World: forthcoming Spring 2007: Edward Elgar

Conclusions

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—even if its a perfect egg

• Write, get feedback, revise, submit, get feedback, revise, resubmit…persevere until its accepted

• Multi-task/Multi-project• Don’t have all your work at the same stage• Sometimes the opportunity comes to you• Take these opportunities if you can

programme them in• Be a writer: NOT a Suppliant• You have something to say

Thank you. Any questions?For any answers you didn’t get today (or were too shy to ask) …

please e-mail, write or phone:Professor David Weirdweir@runbox.comCERAM Sophia Antipolis,Rue Dostoievski BP08506902 FRANCETel: 04 9395 4576

Contact at Emerald

• Mark Hindwell,Head of Corporate Communications,60/62 Toller Lane,Bradford BD8 9BY, UK.Tel: +44 1274 777700  Fax: +44 1274 785201   E-mail: mhindwell@emeraldinsight.com