From the Editors—Introducing JSCM's First Emerging Discourse Incubatlor for 2018/19

Abstract

We are excited to introduce JSCM's first yearly Emerging Discourse Incubator (EDI) for 2018/19 on the topic of research where the focal actor in the network is not a for-profit firm. Please see the call for papers for more details. For JSCM to remain the journal of choice for supply chain management scholars, we need to encourage rigorous empirical research that contributes to theory on topics that have yet to garner the attention they need. Thus, in addition to continuing to publish articles received through the normal submission process, the 2019 volume will contain articles earmarked as relevant to the Emerging Discourse Incubator. The goal of the new EDI is similar to that of a traditional special issue or special topic forum in that the EDI is a way to encourage research on emergent topics and potentially generate additional high-quality submissions. However, the EDI format will allow the discourse to develop over an entire year, using the longer time period to lead to deeper insights and provide a stronger foundation for future research. Additionally, the EDI will be a better way to manage the Journal's supply chain. One of the core principles of supply chain management is matching supply with demand. And in a supply chain that is trying to ensure high quality and timeliness, the goal when matching supply with demand is a swift, even flow. We envision the EDI as a means to maintain our relatively swift and even flow. Papers for the EDI will be submitted and processed at a predictable pace, rather than arriving simultaneously in a large batch that necessitates special issue editors, extra Associate Editors (AEs), and reviewers. For instance, our last special topic forum (see JSCM issue 2, 2017) had more than 50 submissions. What we are proposing would have had these manuscripts arrive at a rate of about one per week, rather than as a single large lump of demand. The EDI model benefits all potential JSCM authors. For those submitting regular papers, the Journal's supply chain should provide its usual level of service, while the EDI call is ongoing. Authors submitting to the EDI will receive more consistent and faster reviewing and editorial decisions than with a traditional special issue. In addition, starting the process with invited papers from both eminent scholars and emerging researchers should provide a foundation for the discourse and potentially frame later submissions. Similarly, encouraging submissions across the year should lead to a deeper discourse as papers that are submitted later in the year can build on and respond to both the invited papers and earlier submissions. Finally, while journal space is not unlimited, this model has more flexibility, providing the potential for publishing more papers in the EDI without taking space from regular submissions. The Emerging Discourse Incubator should allow us to group a number of high-quality papers on the emergent topic together. And by spreading the demand on our supply chain over a year, we hope to achieve this outcome while also providing the authors with the same level of predictability, timeliness, and quality in the review process that JSCM always provides. This will also benefit authors of regular submissions that arrive during the same time period in that the system will not be overly stressed. The ultimate goal is to publish as many, or more, high-quality articles on the emergent topic, but in a manner that is best for authors who submit regular papers or to the EDI. If this pilot project is successful, we will have a second EDI for 2019/20.