Editorial
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2006.00528.x |
| Published date | 01 December 2006 |
| Author | Gerard P. Hodgkinson |
| Date | 01 December 2006 |
Editorial
Approximately eight and a half years ago, I
received a telephone call from Professor David
Otley, Founding Editor, inquiring as to whether I
would consider putting in an application to
succeed him as Editor of the British Journal of
Management (BJM). I regarded his invitation a
great honour but wanted to reflect on the matter
carefully, for the responsibilities of such a major
role are not to be taken lightly. Several days later
I returned his call with some trepidation to say
that I would be delighted to tender an application
...
This is the final issue to be published under my
editorship. It is remarkable how quickly eight
years have passed. David left me with a fantastic
platform on which to build further the reputation
of the BJM. In a previous editorial (Hodgkinson,
2005) I outlined the major achievements that have
occurred since taking over stewardship of the
BJM from David some six years earlier. Having
documented the journal’s progress over that
period, I realised that the time had come for me
to signal to the Council of the British Academy of
Management that I had realistically accomplished
as much as was possible within my capabilities
and that, accordingly, they should begin the
process of finding my replacement. Soon after,
the recruitment and selection process was in-
itiated and I am delighted with the outcome.
Professor Rolf van Dick of Goethe University
(Frankfurt) and Aston Business School, UK, will
succeed me as Editor-in-Chief, with effect from
1 January 2007.
Internationalizing the BJM in terms of its
contributors, reviewers, Editorial Board and the
editorial team, has been both a highly challenging
and rewarding experience. Although the BJM
remains an eclectic and inclusive journal, its
contents have developed markedly over the past
eight volumes. Initially, the most noteworthy
changes occurred in respect of the methodologi-
cal rigour of articles typically published, with a
greater emphasis on matching the degree of
sophistication of the methods of data collection
and analysis to the research questions addressed.
Latterly, there have been equal step changes in
respect of the articles accepted for publication, in
terms of their contribution to the development
and testing of theory.
The BJM could not possibly have accom-
plished all that has been achieved over the past
eight years without such an excellent team of
Associate Editors, supported by the efforts of our
Editorial Board and ad hoc reviewers. There have
been a number of significant changes to the
editorial team during the course of my tenure and
I am grateful not only to the current team, whose
names appear on the present masthead, but also
to John Burgoyne, Kevin Corley, Richard Elliott,
Ewan Ferlie, Martin Kilduff, Joseph Lampel,
Harry Scarbrough, Howard Thomas and Ri-
chard Whittington. They have all performed their
roles with great dedication and enthusiasm. My
thanks also go to Denis Smith who has
performed equally laudably as Book Reviews
Editor.
Just as vital to the success of the journal has
been the outstanding quality of support provided
by the various individuals who have served in a
secretarial capacity (Julia Hardy, Adele Har-
greaves and Sian Williams). I am particularly
grateful to Liam Irwin, Managing Editor, who
has overseen the critical step changes that were
necessary, including the development of the new
systems and operating procedures that have
supported the editorial team, contributors and
ad hoc reviewers during what has been a period
of major growth. Without Liam’s strategic over-
sight, accompanied by his attention to detail, to
say nothing of his calm manner and diplomacy,
the BJM’s progress would have been consider-
ably less marked.
Throughout my editorship the journal has
witnessed a dramatic increase year-on-year in
the number of manuscripts received from across
the globe, and the editorial team has expanded
British Journal of Management, Vol. 17, 261–262 (2006)
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8551.2006.00528.x
r2006 British Academy of Management
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