Sections and Paper Categories

Electronic Markets issues include a special theme section as well as general research section. There are no deadlines for submitting to the general research section. You can submit anytime. Specific deadlines to the special issues will be announced in the call for papers. Furthermore, we differentiate two categories of papers: research papers and position papers. 

The special sections are collections of articles on a specific topic as announced in a call for papers. The number of articles varies but is typically about 3 to 5 papers. For more details of our special theme interests, please have a look at our open calls for papers.

Each Electronic Markets issue is complemented by articles covering a wide variety of subjects within the electronic commerce field. These articles cover material of substance and emphasize concepts and principles. An article sets the background, defines fundamental concepts and approaches, and explains the significance or application of a particular technology or result by means of well-reasoned text and pertinent graphical material, as well as links to the scientific literature which has already been published on the subject of the article and - in most cases - presentation of new scientific evidence.

In general, research papers should contribute to new knowledge in the field of Electronic Markets and need to include:

• The formulation of a research gap,
• The description of research question and methodology,
• A section on how this research connects to prior research,
• The research model itself with a profound discussion of the insights and
  Conclusions regarding the application of the research, on the validation of the results as well as implications for academia and practice.

Position papers focus on introducing new ideas in the discussion. They
connect to a relevant problem in the area of Electronic Markets and develop a novel standpoint. Contrary to research papers which need to comply with rigor regarding the research methodology, position papers need to convince two associate editors of Electronic Markets with a systematic and convincing argumentation. Often, position papers are qualitative and more practice oriented in nature.

Note that there is a different procedure for position papers. Please refer to the special instructions for position papers.