Report Of Executive Editor Of The System Dynamics Review
Summer 2002 (Palermo)
The flow of manuscripts is healthy. There is material to fill more than three of the next issues in volume 18 (two of which are Special Issues). A few authors are having to wait until 18:4 for their papers to appear in hardcopy format. This is a direct result of two consecutive special issues and is addressed in a separate document “A Policy for Special (Themed) Issues of the System Dynamics Review”.
This is a special issue devoted to the memory of Dana Meadows and edited by John Sterman. It is slightly late in terms of publication date and is somewhat in excess of the normal page count for an issue of SDR. However, this is a milestone issue of our journal which will be deployed subsequently as part of a marketing campaign by Wiley. With the agreement of the publishers it was not thought appropriate to make 18:2 a ‘double issue’, especially since the next issue was to be another special and there are four authors awaiting publication of their papers in 18:4. The enhanced page count for 18:2 is obviously adding to Wiley’s costs, but they are happy to bear the extra on this special occasion.
A special issue on “Systems Thinking and System Dynamics in Small-Medium Enterprises”, edited by Carmine Bianchi.
A total of 7 out of 16 manuscripts have survived the refereeing process and have been forwarded to Wiley. The guest editor considers that this issue will also exceed the normal page count and, in anticipation of this eventuality, has already indicated which papers should be deferred to a later issue.
Already 4 papers await publication in this issue. It is normal for the J W Forrester Award-Winning author to publish their conference address here and so the issue is already full.
According to my records, which should now equate with those of the two Managing Editors, 15 articles have been received since January 1st 2002 (not counting those submitted to special issue editors). Of these, 3 have been rejected either on a preliminary sift or after 1st review, 2 have been advised of either minor corrections or major enhancements, but none have yet been accepted. That leaves 10 of this group still in the process of first review. There are also, of course, papers undergoing review and/or revision from 2001 and earlier.
Wiley are currently mounting a strong marketing campaign to enhance the impact and readership of the SDR. The two special issues in 2002 are a central focus of the leaflet being prepared.
Only one is currently in the pipeline, although a number of others have been suggested. Andy Ford and Bob Cavana will guest-edit one tentatively slated to appear in 2004 with the title “Modelling of Environmental and Resource Issues”. A Call is to be included in issue 18:2.
Standardised Programme Guidelines and Link to Submission to System Dynamics Review
A committee was convened under the Chairmanship of Bob Eberlein following the Winter Policy Council meeting. A draft statement was produced on 15 May 2002 and this will be discussed at Palermo. Already one good manuscript has been received which came out of the review process for the Palermo conference.
Brian Dangerfield
July 2002