System Dynamics Review

Editor's report - Winter 2001

  1. Backlog. Unfortunately at the time of writing it is not possible to give a full analysis of the present situation, as reports from one Main Section Editor, and one Notes and Insights Editor have not been received. Regrettably, however, it is clear from the information to hand that the backlog situation is still precarious. The strong papers from the Bergen conference that were fast-tracked reviewed have all now been included, apart from three that are still with authors for revision.
  2. Issue 16:4 should be received by subscribers shortly, 17:1 is at the publishers at the copy-editing stage. On the evidence to hand, we are still light for issue 17:2, though the deadline is not until the end of March.
  3. Issue 17:3 is slated as a special issue guest-edited by Usman Ghani. The status of this issue is difficult to assess. Five substantial articles were received in direct response to the call for papers. Owing to personal circumstances, Usman delayed sending these out for review, and when he did he experienced a very disappointing response from the referees approached. He is trying to engage a second editor to assist in the process and further referees are being approached (If anyone can offer Usman assistance with a quick turn-around review, it would be greatly appreciated - usmanaghani@yahoo.com). It is hoped that the special issue will still be possible for 17:3, if not, a fall back option is to publish all special articles that have been accepted in 17:3, topped up with regular backlog articles, as a ‘themed' issue.
  4. Carmine Bianchi, who is guest editing a special issue on SD in smaller enterprises scheduled for mid-2002 has also reported a slow response in submissions and may also have to delay planned publication.
  5. The evidence from 1 to 4 above all points to a continuing problem in attracting quality papers. It is somewhat ironic that while SDR continues to be ranked in the top 30 journals in the Journal Citation Report ‘management' classification (again in the top 30 for 1999 publications), it persists in having difficulty attracting sufficient copy. It is possible that while many SD authors in the management area do indeed publish in SDR, many others probably prefer to submit their work to less specialised management journals. Compounding this is may be that as SDR is becoming more established as a management journal, authors using SD in other areas are looking less favourably on it for their publications. The Society as well as the SDR Editorial Board may wish to discuss whether it is the case that the recent success of System Dynamics in establishing itself as commercial management consulting technique, along with SDR becoming recognised as a leading management journal, means that the general perception might be growing too strongly, and detrimentally, that SD is a management technique rather then the general purpose approach it has been historically. Has System Dynamics simply become Business Dynamics?
  6. Usman's experience of a disappointing response from people approached to be referees prompted the Editor to ask the regular section editors' views. Both main section editors responded that on reflection they generally did not think that refereeing delays are lengthening, though one said that that had been his impression. One Notes and Insights editor did feel they are lengthening. Nonetheless, it is probably the case that our refereeing delay is longer than is desirable – or acceptable in some cases. On the full data in the one Main Section Editor's update received, the mean delay for first review is 3.3 months (second review is generally a little quicker), but the maximum he experienced was over 11 months. It would help greatly, and be courteous to our authors if all PC and general members, when approached to act as referee, would give this task the highest priority possible. If it is unlikely that a review can be complete in 4/6 weeks, it is most helpful if they immediately respond to the approaching editor (if possible suggesting an alternate reviewer). Anyone wishing to offer their services as referee should contact me, and I will circulate his/her name to all section editors.
  7. On the positive side, Dr. Pernendu Mandal of Marshall University, USA and Dr. Bob Cavanna of Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand have accepted invitations to become Associate Editors. Pernendu will have a particular interest in Technology Management, while Bob is interested in Public/Private sector applications and will also take a special interest in the Australasia region. Khalid Saeed stepped down as associate editor during 2000.
Last edited 1/25/01 by JP