CALL FOR SPECIAL ISSUES – BUSINESS ETHICS, THE ENVIRONMENT & RESPONSIBILITY

Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility (BEER) is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal
dedicated to business ethics and business and society research. The journal seeks original high-
quality scholarship relating to Business Ethics, the Environment, and Responsibility. The range
of contributions reflects the variety and scope of ethical, sustainability, and responsibility issues
faced by business organizations worldwide. Of note, the journal seeks under-represented views
and voices across the globe, with particular emphasis on high-quality scholarship contextualized
in developing countries. BEER employs a comprehensive view of scholarship, drawing on a
variety of methodologies and disciplinary perspectives, to advance knowledge, discourse and
practice in relation to Business Ethics and Business-Society relations in the broadest sense.
Recent Special Issues have covered themes such as “Grand challenges in developing countries:
Context, relationships, and logics” (2021, Volume 30, Issue S1), “Practicing Management
Wisely” (2020, Volume 29, Issue S1), “Gender and Governance in Developing Economies” (2018,
Volume 27, Issue 4) and “Capturing Advances in CSR: Developed Versus Developing Country
Perspectives” (2017, Volume 26, Issue 4).

Timeline and Due Dates for Proposal Process

BEER welcomes proposals to consider for the 2023 Special Issue Cycle. The due date for
proposal submissions this year is 31 October 2022.

SI Expectations
The purpose of a Special Issue (SI) at BEER is to push forward theoretical models, reflect on
emerging controversial business practices, explore impactful CSR and sustainability strategies,
and/or integrate business and society research streams. We seek proposals that:
 Fit BEER’s Aims & Scope
 Highlight relevant and innovative topics
 Influence the field and research agenda of the topic in question
 Have the potential to raise the impact and visibility of the journal
 Include a SI guest team with past editorial experiences and proven ability to attract
strong submissions through networks, associations, and learned societies

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Length & Review Standards
BEER Special issues typically include 8-10 papers following the standard length and formatting
of BEER papers. The review process should follow the principles of transparency, objectivity,
and timeliness by adhering to best practices for blind peer review. BEER employs a double-blind
peer review process for all Special Issue submissions that are handled beyond the desk reject
phase.

Advertising Expectations
Guest Editors are expected to create the call for papers and promote it widely and in a manner
that is inclusive and open to authors from around the globe and a variety of socioeconomic
contexts.

Post Proposal Acceptance Processes

Once a Special Issue proposal is accepted, the Guest Editor(s) will be in charge of inviting and
handling papers for the Special Issue. Papers must adhere to the Editorial style of BEER detailed
here.

All papers must be submitted through the BEER on-line system ScholarOne.

The following review process procedures are required:

1. Guest Editor(s) will use the ScholarOne system for accessing submissions and conducting
the review process. Guest Editor(s) need to coordinate with a designated Co-Editor who will
connect the Guest Editor(s) with the Wiley Publishing staff to make the necessary
arrangements.

2. All non-desk-rejected submissions to the Special Issue will undergo double-blind peer-
review process conducted via ScholarOne.

3. A BEER Co-Editor will work closely with the Guest Editors(s) to supervise and support the SI
process.

4. The Guest Editor(s) are expected to develop an editorial essay that introduces the SI articles
and offers an insightful overview of the topic, meeting BEER’s publication standards. This
essay will be submitted to the designated Co-Editor for peer review before publication.

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5. If any of the Guest Editor(s) intend to co-author a manuscript submitted to the Special
Issue, a maximum of one request will be considered by the team of Co-Editors. In case the
request is granted, the review process for this manuscript is managed by the designated Co-
Editor.

6. The Guest Editor(s) must evaluate each submission for rejection without review or review
within 14 days of submission.

7. When a paper is rejected without review, the Guest Editor(s) must, in advance, consult the
Co-Editors if they would like to counsel the authors to submit their work to the journal’s
regular issue. Preceding such conversations, the Guest Editor(s) are expected to fully assess
such papers for scholarly quality and fit for the journal. For instance, circumstances where
the paper was rejected from the SI on the grounds that it did not fit the scope of the Special
Issue, but meets BEER’s Aims & Scope.

8. Review reports are assigned to the Guest Editor(s), who makes the final decision about
revisions and rejections.

9. Revised papers are assigned to the Guest Editor(s), who re-assigns papers for further review
or makes a final decision.

10. During the review process, if deemed prudent, the Co-Editors may request additional
reviews for specific papers, further revisions, and reserve the right to reject papers if they
do not meet BEER’s standards.

11. The Guest Editor(s) has access to all papers and the related files throughout the review and
selection processes.

12. Final acceptance decisions in ScholarOne will be made by the designated Co-Editor in
consultation with the Guest Editor(s).

13. The Guest Editor(s) is responsible for selecting 8 or 10 papers for the Special Issue. The
Guest Editors should consult the designated Co-Editor if within the review process a smaller
number of papers is expected.

14. Guest Editor(s) must inform the designated Co-Editor about who is going to review and
correct page proofs for each article, i.e. authors, Guest Editor(s) or both.

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15. Final approval is granted by the assigned Co-Editor for the Special Issue to go to press.

16. In extreme circumstances, the Co-Editors can decide to cancel a Special Issue if the Guest
Editor(s) are unable to collect enough submissions by the Special Issue’s deadline (as
indicated in the procedures above) or if the Co-Editors and Guest Editors are unable to find
a mutually agreeable extension of the submission deadline.

Self-Archiving
SI authors with accepted papers may post a pre-print (pre-peer review) draft of their paper on
an institutional repository or on academic social networks. In addition, authors are encouraged
to create a link to the accepted (peer-reviewed) version in alignment with Wiley’s self-archiving
policies.

Special Issue Proposals Format

SI proposals should include the following information in a Word Document:
• Contact information, including full affiliations, phone, e-mail, and professional addresses
of all Guest Editors.
• Background information for all Guest Editors related to the proposed theme and
previous editorial experience with BEER and/or other journals or publications.
• 750-1000 word overview of the proposed theme with description of 1) significant work in
the field; 2) current gaps in our understanding of the theme; and 3) the theme’s
relevance to business ethics, the environment and social responsibility in distinctive,
evocative, and unique ways—conceptually, empirically, and/or methodologically.
• Strategy for advertising the Call for Papers beyond the publication on BEER’s and Wiley’s
homepages. This includes, but is not limited to social media, conferences, and individual
networks.
• A well-considered timeline from acceptance of the Special Issue proposal including initial
submission deadline, revise & resubmit processing, and final papers completion.
• A list or description of indicative scholars who might submit to the Special Issue.
• A list of proposed ad hoc editorial board members/reviewers (including email addresses
or affiliations).
• A draft of the Call for Papers.

Special Issue inquiries can be directed to Ralf Barkemeyer (ralf.barkemeyer@kedgebs.com). We

encourage Special Issues Guest Editor teams to ask questions and speak with any of the Co-
Editors in advance of submission. The Editors and a committee of our Associate Editors and/or

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subject matter experts as appropriate will review all submitted proposals. Possible outcomes
are (a) acceptance, (b) revisions, or (c) rejection of the proposal. Special issue proposals can be
submitted via Word by 31 October 2022.

Criteria for Evaluating SI Proposals

1. How the proposal aligns with BEER’s Aims & Scope
2. Relevance and innovative character of the proposed topic
3. Past work and track record of SI guest editors
4. Potential of the topic in relation to the influence in the field and research agenda
5. Potential impact and visibility of the Special Issue
6. Ability to attract strong submissions through networks, associations, and learned societies
7. Association with a conference is a plus

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