The Insiders Guide to Getting Published in International

The Insiders’ Guide to Getting Published in International Research Journals Kim Foster Publisher (Management) Emerald Group Publishing Limited Monday 21 st July 2008 Ciclo de Conferencias Bancaja Jóvenes Emprendedores 2008

Emerald Group Publishing – company background • World’s leading publisher of management research • Celebrated 40 years in publishing in 2007 • Founded in 1967 in Bradford, West Yorkshire • Offices Beijing, Tokyo, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur and Boston • Emerald now publishes over 185 journals in business and management • Over 18 million downloads in 2007

Positioning and philosophy – Emerald looking forwards Emerald’s publishing philosophy: • We believe in the application of ideas • We believe that good management can – must – make a better world • We believe in inclusivity, internationality, innovation and independence • A better-managed world means better government, better business, more equality, meritocracy of race, age and gender, more employment, more wealth • ‘Research you can use’

Editorial supply chain and journal management structure Author Quality research papers Editor EAB and reviewers Solicits new papers Research Handles review process Promotes journal to peers Attends conferences Develops new areas of coverage Publisher Production Users QA – sub-editing and proof reading Access via library Helps editors Convert to SGML succeed in their role for online and build a first class databases journal Print production Overall responsibility for journal Despatch Promotion and Added value from marketing publisher Attends conferences Hard copy The link between the publisher and editor Handles production issues Database Third party

Being published means… • Your paper is permanent – published material enters the ‘body of knowledge’ • Your paper is improved – through the interventions of editors, reviewers, subeditors and proof-readers • Your paper is actively promoted – it becomes available to a huge audience • Your writing is trustworthy – material which has been published carries a QA stamp. Someone apart from the author thinks it’s good

Being published also means dissemination Emerald now publishes… • 116, 000 articles online, or over 110 years of content • Over 18 million downloads in 2007 • 60% of customer usage occurs outside the UK • More than 3, 000 university libraries worldwide subscribe to Emerald journal collections • 98 of the world’s top 100 business schools (2006 Financial Times MBA school rankings) subscribe to Emerald titles

Some Statistics from Spain Authors = 1, 603 of 70, 000 (2. 2%) No. of papers = 2, 532 of 140, 000 (1. 8%) Usage = 78, 464 downloads in 2007 Most used journals • International Journal of Operations & Production Management • European Journal of Marketing • Journal of Knowledge Management • Journal of Intellectual Capital

Top Spanish Users 1. Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya 2. Universitat de Valencia 3. Universitat Ramon Llull 4. Universitat de les Illes Balears 5. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona … 11. Universitat Politecnica De Valencia

Spanish Authorship

Ideas: where to start As well as ‘traditional’ research… • Are you working on a Doctoral or Master’s thesis? • Have you completed a successful project? • Are you working on a problem with no clear solution? • Do you have an observation on a subject? • Have you given a presentation or conference paper? • If so, you have the basis for a publishable paper

Which journal to target? • Where have similar papers been published? • Is the journal sympathetic to your subject and methodology? • Check editorial board and predict likely reviewers • Ask the Editor if your paper or topic is appropriate before you submit • NEVER, EVER submit a paper to more than one journal simultaneously • Be political (national vs international) and strategic (5 articles in ‘low ranked’ journals vs one in ‘top ranked’ journal) • If you’re still not sure – ask!

Thomson Reuters (ISI) What is it? • A database of 9, 000 selected journals, each scored with an Impact Factor based on citations • Emerald currently has 39 journals on ISI • Very difficult to get journals listed – the application can take 2 years! Not the only measure of quality • Usage is a good measure • Other journal rankings (ABS list, Harzing)

Thomson Scientific (ISI) How are Impact Factor calculations made? ISI uses the following equation to work out the impact factor of a particular journal: A = 2006 cites to articles published only in 2004 -2005 in a given journal B = number of articles published in 2004 -2005 in a given journal A/B = 2006 impact factor for the journal Using the Journal of Management Genius as an example, there were 20 citations in 2006 in other ISI journals from its 2004 -2005 issues (A). In this two-year period there were 60 articles published (B), which meant that the impact factor for Journal of Management Genius in 2006 was 20/60 = 0. 333 A = 2006 cites (20) B = articles published (60) A/B = 2006 impact factor (0. 333)

Get it read “Many papers are rejected simply because they don’t fulfil journal requirements. They don’t even go into the review process. ” • Follow the Author Guidelines – to the letter! • Find where to send your paper (editor, regional editor, subject area editor). Read a copy of the journal and check the publisher’s website • Send an outline or abstract and ask if it looks interesting (or how it could be made so) • Confirm how an editor would like a submission • Be realistic about timescales and revisions

Example of author guidelines Every journal published will have detailed notes and guidelines

Editors and reviewers look for … • Originality – what’s new about subject, treatment or results? • Research methodology – are conclusions valid and objective? • Clarity, structure and quality of writing – does it communicate well? • Sound, logical progression of argument • Theoretical, relevant 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 • A structured abstract – in 250 words or less (no more than 100 in any one section) • 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? www. emeraldinsight. com/structuredabstracts

Improve electronic dissemination by… • Using short descriptive title 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

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: Leads Metropolitan University

Co-authorship as a possibility • With supervisor, across departments, someone from a different institution • Demonstrates the authority and rigour of the research • Especially useful for cross-disciplinary research • Ensure paper is checked and edited so that it reads as one voice • Exploit your individual strengths • Agree and clarify order of appearance of authors and the person taking on the role of corresponding author

Process of acceptance for a journal – just one example

Revising • A request for revision is good news! It really is • 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

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

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% of papers in business and management don’t get published. Everybody has been rejected at least once • Keep trying!

How Emerald can help YOU • Research Connections – put you in touch with other researchers in your area • Premium help with placing your paper • Complimentary journal issue and five reprints upon publication • Calls for Papers and news of publishing opportunities on journal web pages • Editing service available • Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards • Annual Awards for Excellence www. emeraldinsight. com/literati

Thank you. Any questions? For any answers you didn’t get today … Please e-mail or phone me at: kfoster@emeraldinsight. com +44 (0)1274 785076