Publishing an integrative literature review paper in the Academy of Management Annals journal: lessons learned from personal experience

Research area: Management: SIMBE (Strategy, International Management & Business, and Entrepreneurship

 

Abstract: While literature review is a central element of any dissertation and most academic writing, writing a dedicated literature review paper for a journal poses challenges and opportunities in its own right. In this research seminar, I will discuss my experiences of writing and publishing a paper in the Academy of Management Annals journal – a prestigious general management journal specialising in integrative literature reviews. My point of reference will be my recent article “Understanding Communities of Practice: Taking Stock and Moving Forward” – however, I will only lightly cover the contents of this paper, which you are welcome to read or skim through before attending the seminar. Instead, I will focus on the technical, organisational, and practical problems which I believe are helpful to be aware of when writing a paper for the Annals. My discussion will be centred around the timeline from the paper idea conception to the publication of the paper in the journal. On this basis, I aim to offer a set of practical recommendations and advice for researchers at different career stages – including those who have perhaps already published many papers but not necessarily a literature review article, as well for PhD students and early-career researchers. Many of the ideas and insights to be discussed are also expected to be relevant for working on submissions for journals other than the Annals, such as the International Management Review journal, or indeed for working on a literature review for a PhD dissertation.