Sage Publishing Unveils BAM as a Dedicated Platform for Impactful Scholarship

The academic publishing landscape continues to evolve with an emphasis on accessibility and real-world relevance. Sage, a leading independent publisher, has introduced Business & Management (BAM), a new peer-reviewed Gold Open Access journal. This launch addresses longstanding concerns about the reach of business and management research beyond traditional academic circles.

Gold Open Access means all articles are freely available immediately upon publication, removing paywalls that often limit readership to those with institutional subscriptions. Authors or their institutions typically cover article processing charges, enabling wider dissemination without barriers for readers worldwide.

Understanding the Focus on Broader Research Impact

BAM organizes submissions around four distinct categories of impact. These include interdisciplinary contributions that bridge multiple fields, professional and policy influences that inform business practices and regulations, societal and sustainable outcomes addressing issues like inequality and environmental challenges, and teaching and learning applications that enhance educational practices.

This structure encourages researchers to consider how their work extends beyond citations within narrow sub-disciplines. Traditional metrics like journal impact factors often prioritize methodological novelty over practical applicability, but BAM evaluates rigor alongside potential for meaningful engagement with diverse audiences.

The Role of Usha C. V. Haley as Inaugural Editor-in-Chief

Usha C. V. Haley serves as the founding editor-in-chief. Her background includes extensive work on research impact in management studies, including contributions to global surveys and white papers on societal influence. Under her leadership, the journal aims to attract submissions that demonstrate clear pathways to external influence.

Haley has highlighted how institutional incentives in business schools frequently reward publications in a limited set of highly ranked journals. BAM seeks to provide an alternative venue where broader contributions receive recognition on equal footing with conventional scholarship.

Why Open Access Matters for Business and Management Research

Open access publishing has shown consistent advantages in citation rates and audience reach. Studies indicate that freely available articles attract more readers from outside academia, including practitioners, policymakers, and students in resource-limited settings.

For fields like business and management, where findings on topics such as supply chains, leadership, and sustainability can directly affect organizations and communities, immediate accessibility accelerates knowledge transfer. This aligns with global movements toward open science promoted by organizations including UNESCO.

Researchers interested in exploring related trends in scholarly communication may find value in examining how other publishers are adapting their models.

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Submission Guidelines and Scope for Prospective Authors

The journal welcomes manuscripts across all functional areas of business, evaluated primarily on methodological soundness and validity rather than strict adherence to disciplinary boundaries. Submissions can originate from any geographic region, supporting a truly international perspective.

Authors are encouraged to articulate the specific impact dimensions their work addresses. This might involve detailing collaborations with industry partners, potential policy applications, or integrations into curricula. Peer review remains rigorous, maintaining the standards expected from established Sage titles.

Implications for Academic Careers and Institutional Priorities

The introduction of BAM coincides with shifting expectations in higher education. Accreditation bodies and funding agencies increasingly emphasize demonstrable outcomes beyond peer recognition. Faculty navigating promotion and tenure processes may find this journal offers a pathway to showcase contributions that align with these evolving criteria.

Early-career researchers, in particular, stand to benefit from venues that value interdisciplinary and applied work. By reducing reliance on paywalled outlets, BAM supports more equitable participation from scholars in emerging economies or at institutions with limited library resources.

Connections to Wider Movements in Research Assessment

Efforts like the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and the Leiden Manifesto have long advocated for diversified evaluation metrics. BAM operationalizes these principles by explicitly incorporating impact categories into its editorial framework.

Business schools adopting AACSB standards, which distinguish between research outputs and outcomes, may view the journal as a complementary resource. It provides a publishing home for work that meets both academic rigor and societal relevance expectations.

Practical Steps for Engaging with the Journal

Scholars considering submission should review the detailed author guidelines available on the journal site. Preparing a manuscript involves clearly mapping the research to one or more of the four impact areas while ensuring robust empirical or theoretical foundations.

Institutions seeking to support faculty in this direction might consider updating internal policies to recognize open access publications and broader impact evidence in evaluation processes. Workshops on translating research for non-academic audiences can further amplify these efforts.

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Future Outlook for Impact-Oriented Publishing

As the academic community grapples with questions of relevance and public trust, journals like BAM represent an important experiment in aligning incentives with desired outcomes. Success will depend on the quality and diversity of submissions received in the initial volumes.

Longer term, the model could influence other publishers to adopt similar structures. This evolution supports a more dynamic research ecosystem where findings on pressing global challenges reach those positioned to act on them.

Resources for Further Exploration

Those seeking additional context on research impact frameworks can consult reports from responsible research networks. The journal's launch page offers direct submission information and editorial board details for potential contributors and readers alike.