Journal Quality and Journal
Development:
Competing on the international stage
Marcin Dembowski
Regional Sales Manager Russia, Baltic States & CIS
Oxford University Press
May 2015
Agenda
• About OUP
• Journal Development
– What makes a good journal?
– Defining goals and why they matter
– Achieving goals
The University of Oxford
Overview
The oldest university in the English speaking world.
It is a collegiate research based institution.
Oxford University and Research
Where does it rank?
1. 4* means world leading according to REF
Oxford University
Press
Our Mission
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of
Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence
in research, scholarship, and education by publishing
worldwide.
John Fell
6
Clarendon Presentation—Tim Barton (November 2011)
A Very Short Introduction
• Origins date back to 1478
• Largest university press
• 25th largest publisher in the world
• 6,000 employees worldwide
• Over 5,000 titles per year, and 300 journals
Oxford University
Press
Products
Support to Students Researchers and
Academics
OUP in Humanities
Scholarly Resources
OHO, UPSO, Journals,
Research Encyclopaedias
Reference Materials
ODO, OBO, ORO
Framing the question for exploration &
reflection
Build argument & Support with evidence
Oxford Index
Generating related OUP content to deepen your
search
Each resource provides a vital
step on the research journey, from
quick fact checking, to reviewing
the literature
in a field, to
keeping
OUP
Resources
Fit
in your
up to date with the latest research.
Where do
Research Journey?
Subject
Specific
Resources
Oxford University Press (OUP)
publishes the highest quality
journals and delivers this
research to the widest possible
audience.
We achieve this by working
closely with our society
partners, authors, and
subscribers in order to provide
them with publishing services
that support their research
needs.
www.oxfordjournals.org
Journal Development
12
Starting/Running The Journal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Appoint an Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board
Develop conceptual framework
Invite authors
Peer-review contributions
Regular review of progress to determine new topics and
update priorities
6. Commission new articles or updates based on user
feedback
What makes a good journal?
• Committed editors and editorial board
• Appropriate Aims and Scope – meeting community need
• Content
– Range of subjects
– Quality
– Geographical distribution
– Volume of content
• Robust, ethical peer review
• Visibility – how easy is it to find and access your content
John Fell
• Readership
14
The role of the editor(s)
Objective: ambassador for the Journal, working with the
Publisher and wider editorial team to set the direction for the
journal, establish its reputation, and encourage/process highquality submissions that support the Journal’s mission
John Fell
15
Mobilizing the
community of experts
16
Global network of research
The role of the editor(s)
• Setting journals Scope and Strategy
• Establishing and enforcing peer review process to select best manuscripts
• Commissioning manuscript submissions in areas identified in the Journal’s
editorial strategy
• Setting Journal policies e.g. authorship, conflict of interest, publishing ethics
• Strategic development (supported by others)
• Developing and maintaining an extensive network for promotional purposes
John Fell
18
The role of the editor(s)
Opportunities/Threats
solutions
decide
democracy
implement
dictatorship
Democraship
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
When do journals need development?
• Young journals:
– To attract more submissions
– To grow into new markets
– To increase quality
ALWAYS
• Mature journals:
– To respond to market/competitor changes
– To grow into new markets
– To increase quality
John Fell
20
Lifecycle of an Organization/journal
Stable
Early Bureaucracy
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
Role of Editor(s)
opporthreats
It is not the strongest of
the species that survive,
nor the most intelligent,
but the one most
responsive to change.
Charles Darwin
Growing
Aging
management
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
Journal development process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
23
Define your mission
Assess competition/market
Review current position
Set clear goals
Agree action plans
Set milestones
Review progress towards
milestones
Journal development process
Review your current position
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
24
Author demographics
Impact factor
Subject coverage
Reputation/profile
Business models
Quality of papers
Sales/Finances
Usage
or
Perception of the reality
is
The “Is” way of
perceiving reality
refers to the
present reality.
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
Perception of the reality
should
“Should” way of
perceiving reality refers
to what you believe is
the right thing to do,
where the value
exceeds the cost.
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
Perception of the reality
The “Want” way of
perceiving reality refers
to what we want to
do/be regardless of the
cost.
want
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
should
is
mine
Mine
What you want
should be and it
is.
want
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
Perception of the reality
“Our journal is the best in Russia/Europe/World.”
“We can be the best journal in Russia.”
“We should be the best journal in Russia.”
Adizes Institute 1997 - 2015
Criteria You Might Look At:
• Rankings (example Thomson Reuters Impact factors; the
Association of Business Schools ABS etc.)
• Number of downloads (utility)
• Dissemination of journal (where it is read)
• Links to societies/associations
• Relevance of content and publishing ethos
• International
Journal development process
Set clear objectives
1. Specific
2. Realistic
3. Consistent
31
Editors are looking for “something new and
preferably surprising” according to Dr. Peter
Smith, a Cambridge philosopher and former
editor of Analysis, the philosophical journal.
Be Careful:
There are 1,000,000’s of published studies.
You need to MASTER your subject/topics:
be aware of works completed by others,
updates, etc.
What makes a good paper?
HINT: Editors and reviewers look for …
•
Originality – what’s new about subject, treatment or results?
•
Relevance to and extension of existing knowledge
•
Research methodology – are conclusions valid and objective?
•
Clarity, structure and quality of writing – does it communicate well?
•
Sound, logical progression of argument
•
So what?’ factors!
•
Recency and relevance of references
•
Adherence to the editorial scope and objectives of the journal
•
A good title, keywords and a well written abstract
www.oxfordjournals.org
www.oxfordjournals.org
Disc
over
abilit
y and
the
Oxfor
d
38
Index
Disc
over
abilit
y and
the
Oxfor
d
39
Index
Disc
over
abilit
y and
the
Oxfor
d
40
Index
Journal development process
Action plans and milestones
• Who to do what, by when?
• How will you know you are on
the right track?
41
Well managed journal:
(P)rovide
(P)urposeclient needs
functional
(A)dminister
systematic
(E)ntrepreneur
proactive
(I)ntegrate
organic
effective
efficient
effective
short
run
long
run
efficient
Profit
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www.oxfordlanguageediting.com
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directly with any questions
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52
Disciplines Covered
53
Thank you!
Any questions?
marcin.dembowski@oup.com – please
contact me directly with any questions
54