Mission and purpose
The Business Case Journal was established by the Society for Case Research to publish cases and research related to case writing or teaching with cases. All cases and teaching notes are subject to editorial review as well as to a triple blind review process. Acceptance rates have recently ranged from 10 to 20 percent.
Historically, the Business Case Journal has focused on cases in which the student is placed in the role of a decision-maker and asked to make recommendations appropriate to the context of the situation. The Editor refers to these as “decision cases.” The Journal will also accept case studies. A case study is a description of a real situation. Authors must provide sufficient background information such that the student can evaluate how effectively the situation was managed. Teaching notes of these “descriptive cases” will require the student to analyze, assess, evaluate the situation, and determine if there was a more effective way to handle the situation.
The Business Case Journal has a preference for field-researched cases but will also consider cases based on substantial research from secondary sources. The Journal does not accept fictional or synthesized cases.
Cases or articles that have been published previously or are under review elsewhere will not be reviewed by the Business Case Journal. Cases may be released for other publications after a publication date has been set by the Journal's Editor. No part of a case or teaching note may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without a written permission of the Society for Case Research.
Submissions are subject to an initial editorial review. Manuscripts that meet the minimum standards of the Journal will receive a blind review by at least two members of the Editorial Review Board.
Submission Guidelines
- At least one author of a case submitted to the BCJ for review must be a current dues paid member of the SCR prior to review by the editor, any associate editor, or any blind reviewer. Membership information
- Microsoft Word is the only acceptable format.
- Manuscripts must be double-spaced with 1” margins.
- All tables, figures, and artwork must be incorporated into the manuscript or appropriately acknowledged as to location. (NOTE: The BCJ does not use Exhibits: it is either a Table or a Figure.)
- If submitting hardcopies: You must send the following:
- A transmittal letter containing the name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and email address for each author. Be sure to note which author is the primary contact.
- A statement detailing your personal experience, or those of colleague, that have used the case in the classroom.
- Authors of cases based on field research must submit a copy of the written authorization for the use of the case from an appropriate officer in the subject organization before the case will be reviewed.
- Permission letters for the use of material that has previously been copy-righted must be submitted at this time. (NOTE: If it belongs to someone else or has been adapted from someone else, appropriate citation must be given!)
- Four (4) copies of the Case and four (4) copies of the Teaching Note (TN). (NOTE: There should be absolutely no reference to the author, co-authors, their affiliations, etc., on the case or TN.
- If your case was previously presented elsewhere, i.e., the SCR summer workshop, include copies of the scribe notes or evaluation/critique sheets with your submission. It will preclude me from having to ask you for them.
- If submitting electronically: You must send the following in separate files:
- Case (NOTE: There should be absolutely no reference to the author, co-authors, their affiliations, etc., on the case or TN.
- Teaching Note
- Letter of transmittal
- Statement of pre-submission classroom testing experience
- Permissions and Authorizations
- Scribe notes or evaluation sheets (See item 6 above.)
When your submission is tentatively accepted for publication, the primary author will receive detailed guidelines and instructions for the preparation of the Abstract, Case, and Teaching Note.
All authors of accepted cases must become members of the Society for Case Research prior to publication of the case in the Business Case Journal.
Send manuscripts for review to
Kay A. Hodge, Editor
University of Nebraska-Kearney
905 W. 25th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
(308) 865-8003
For additional information, visit our Web site ( www.sfcr.org ) or contact the Editor directly.