Guest Editing for EM

EM has a long tradition of covering specific topics and always welcomes suggestions for special issues. The following information might be helpful before contacting the editorial office:

A special issue theme needs to have a link to the journal´s scope. It is recommended to contact the Editorial Office in this respect prior to drafting a call for papers.

The call for papers should be concise and not exceed two pages. It typically comprises the team of guest editors, an introduction of 2-3 paragraphs, a list of 5-10 key topics and the due date for papers. The editorial office will add a self-description of the journal and also share the call after it has been accepted.

A special issue may be organized with or without an open call for papers. A closed special issue is often a fast-track from a conference where several potential contributions are already available and where authors may be contacted directly.

A special issue may include all paper categories i.e. research papers, position papers, case papers as well as fundamentals. If guest editors submit papers to their special issue, the editorial office will handle the review process outside of the special issue.

The team of guest editors usually comprises two to four colleagues. It should be international in nature, i.e., include guest editors from the Americas, Asia, and/or Europe. Please note that potential guest editors should have served in EM before.

A special issue includes a minimum of three accepted papers. If this number has not been reached the accepted articles will be published in the general research section with the responsible guest editor(s) mentioned as responsible editor(s).

If the minimum amount of accepted papers has been reached, the guest editors may contribute a preface to their special issue theme, which will be published with the accepted articles. The preface should introduce the topic and frame the accepted papers. It is not subject to a peer review.

Review process and tasks for Guest Editors

For each submission a minimum of two reviews is required. Guest editors invite at least three reviewers for each submission so we will get at least two reviews without delay. As a rule of thumb, at least one reviewer should be a member of the EM editorial board.

In case guest editors are organizing a fast track special issue or a special issue with conference papers (see the hint to the AIS policy on the author information page), they may invite reviewers that have been involved in the prior review process (e.g. at the conference).

All reviewers must be registered in the Editorial Manager system. Although the Editorial Manager system generates automatic reminders by default, guest editors need to regularly monitor the progress of the review process.

After reviews have been completed in the system the guest editor enter a preliminary recommendation regarding a possible publication in EM (for terms: reject, revise and resubmit, major/minor revisions, accept without revisions see the description under Authors/Decisions).

Guest editors are expected to summarize the reviews and provide guidance to the authors regarding possible revisions or reasons for reject. The comments should help to improve and to develop the paper.

In the case of a second review round, revised papers will be resubmitted and assigned back to the guest editor by the editorial office. As soon as all reviewers have decided to accept the paper without revisions, the decision will be forwarded to the author.

The journal reserves the right to modify the final decision and to involve a senior editor, co-editor or editor-in-chief for a final check. This follows a four-eyes-rule and may overrule the recommendation of the guest editors.

In case you have any questions regarding the guest editor role, please do not hesitate to contact the editorial office.