BJM Call for Special Issue Proposals

Editorial team

Typically, the editorial team is comprised of four to six people. Collectively, the membership of the team should demonstrate experience of research on the special issue theme, academic excellence, some editorial experience, international reach and attention to diversity. Include a 50-word biography for each member of the team.

You should confirm that the members of the team will not be committed to other special issues in other outlets for the editorial process period of the proposed special issue.

Please note that we will appoint an Associate Editor from our regular team who will join the special issue team as a full member, who will work with you throughout the process, including but not limited to initial review of the papers and to confirm final acceptances. Your submission should, therefore, confirm that you accept this condition.

Academic rationale

The academic rationale functions in a similar way to the introduction to an article – it should explain why the special issue is necessary, timely and likely to add substantially to theoretical debates. The aim is to demonstrate that the special issue theme is significant and broad enough to attract submissions (and later, readers and citations) while also being focused enough to be coherent.

This section is normally 2-3 pages and should be well supported by citations; while interdisciplinary breadth and novelty is welcome, you must show connection to debates in BJM.

Example themes /
research questions

Across a half to one full page, provide a number of example questions or themes for article submissions. If these are set out as possible research questions, they should be phrased as ‘how’ / ‘why’ questions since these are more likely to lead to contributions to theoretical debates.

Anticipated ‘shape’ of the Special Issue

With reference to the BJM submission types which can be found here, indicate the number of articles of each type that your special issue will aim to develop. Typically, most of the articles should be empirical although there may be one or two conceptual and/or methodological articles.

If you are intending a special issue to be focused on Management Knowledge and Education, you should specify the number of articles of those specific types that you are targeting.

Whatever the focus of your special issue, the normal target range should fall within 6-10 published articles in total.

Editorial introduction

The special issue editorial team may not make submissions to the special issue. However, they will be provided with the opportunity to write an editorial introduction to their special issue as a team (including the Associate Editor appointed by BJM). This must introduce the accepted articles but may go on to develop some novel insights and inferences for the field from that starting point. It will not be a ‘stand-alone’ essay on the special issue theme. Please confirm in your submission that you understand and accept this condition.

Submission development plan

Outline (around one page) how you will promote the special issue and attract and develop a significant range of potential submissions. Your plan may include media and network activity but must indicate planned activities at specific events or conferences hosted by the team, indicating who from your team will commit to each. We will work with special issue editors to profile your activities at BAM events and through BAM channels.

Visibility and impact plan

Outline (no more than one page) how you will ensure that the completed special issue would attract and engage scholarly attention and lead to an impact on practice and/or policy.