Editorial

Citation

Moutinho, L. (2006), "Editorial", Journal of Modelling in Management, Vol. 1 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/jm2.2006.29701aaa.001

Editorial

Here we are, the first issue of the first volume of the Journal of Modelling in Management (JM2). This is the result of a persistent idea I have had for some time that, and although these many excellent academic journals that consistently include research modelling-based articles in their content, there has been an academic research gap in terms of providing a scholarly outlet dedicated solely to research modelling in management.

A model is a set of variables and the inter-relationships designed to represent some real system or process. Models are built by management scientists, who apply scientific methodology to achieve understanding, prediction, or control of some management problem.

The Journal of Modelling in Management (JM2) provides a forum for academics and researchers who have an interest in business modelling. The critical emphasis of this journal is on modelling and we seek papers that deal with the theory, practice and implementation of business models.

JM2 specifically promotes and supports research writing that engages in an academically rigorous manner, areas related to research modelling such as – a priori theorising conceptual models, uncertainty-based reasoning models, multi-attribute decision-making models, generalised linear models, statistical decision models and computer-based models.

Why is the journal important to its field? Both theoretical and empirical models seek to parsimoniously describe reality and clarify prominent relationships. We already have reality with complete detail: we need models to simplify reality. Perhaps the only advantage of a model over reality is simplicity. Of course, simplicity is not a goal but only a property of a model. The essence of modelling is making approximating assumptions creating parsimony. The journal is designed to disseminate marketing and management models built to omit distracting details of reality so that we can create more concise representations of reality for description, prediction or optimisation.

The antecedents-modelling-consequences (AMC) framework highlights a comprehensive view of our editorial policy whereby we seek papers that have:

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  a strong conceptualisation level and theoretical underpinnings which are primary pre-requisites for a robust modelling approach;

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  clear research antecedents that will support innovative methodological modelling processes (e.g. model-building, validation procedures, etc); and

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  a high degree of usefulness in terms of applicability (implementation with academic content and support) and managerial implications.

This A-M-C focus is designed to differentiate JM2 from other reputable academic outlets.

JM2 welcomes academic papers encompassing the whole A-M-C research framework but also welcomes pieces of work that make explicit the individual links between “Antecedents and Modelling” and “Modelling and Consequences”.

JM2 welcomes academic papers encompassing the whole research process (from conceptualisation to managerial implications) but also welcomes pieces of work that make explicit the individual links between “antecedents and modelling” (how to tackle certain problems) and “modelling and consequences” (how to apply the models and draw appropriate conclusions). JM2 is particularly interested in innovative methodological and statistical modelling processes and those models that result in clear and justified managerial decisions.

JM2 is focused on the dissemination of management modelling issues and approached built, tested and validated to create more concise representations of the business environment reality for description, explanation, prediction or optimisation. Published models and modelling approaches must provide sufficient clarity to produce unambiguous, testable and stable implications.

I very much would like to thank John Peters and Emerald for believing in the project as well as the trust placed in me. A big special thanks to my Managing Editor, Kate Snowden, for all the encouragement, support and guidance given in the conception and inception of the Journal of Modelling in Management (JM2)! Another key person that I need to show gratitude to is Wendy Weaver, who, despite only recently having taken the busy job of JM2 Editorial Administrator in Glasgow, has already given a tremendous amount of her time and effort to the benefit of the editorial quality of the journal! I must also take this opportunity to thank Professors Angus Laing and Fiona Wilson of Glasgow University, for support given to allow the set-up of the admin at The School of Business and Management here in Glasgow. I also would like to thank my new associate editor Kun-Huang Huarng for his readily assistance as well as Malcolm Beynon and Graeme Hutcheson who had helped in the initial stages of development of JM2. To all, please accept my gratitude! I hope you enjoy reading the research published in JM2. I sincerely hope that with your support (submissions, reviews, suggestions, positive criticisms, etc.) we will be able to continually increase the academic standard and scholarly robustness of JM2!

Many thanks

Luiz Moutinho