The Socially Driven Life Cycle of Academic Scholarship: A Longitudinal Study of Six Electronic Journals

Anat Hovav Korea University

Abstract

Early studies of electronic journals (e-journals) viewed the web as a technological discontinuity that would deem traditional academic publishing null. This article uses the industry life cycle framework as a lens to examine the formation of academic e-journals. The article proposes five factors affecting the academic publishing dominant design selection process, and examines these factors against six longitudinal case studies. The study concludes that from technical/functional, economic and market perspectives, e-journals are superior to paper journals (p-journals). However, academic social norms and the managerial processes needed to establish and maintain e-journals are more influential on their formation than the capabilities provided by the new technology. In addition, the long-term sustainability and survivability of e-journals depend on the administrative and managerial processes established by its management team. This study demonstrates that although the web enables a large number of new entrants and a variety of business and technical models, e-journals are a competency-enhancing innovation that relies on the existing expertise of professional publishers and the journal's ability to support the social and cultural needs of academia.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2008-03-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2007.2000045
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (45)

  1. (2007, nov. 11). the journal review process: a manifesto for change.
    Commun Assoc Inform Syst
  2. 10.1038/35079151
  3. should commercial publishers be included in the model for open access through author payment?
    D-Lib Mag
  4. 10.3138/JSP-028-03-135
  5. academic electronic publishing: scenario for the year 2007
    Proc 5th Americas Conf Information Systems of AIS
Show all 45 →
  1. Managing Strategic Innovation and Change
  2. identifying and evaluating the universe of outlets for information systems research: rank…
    J Inform Technol Theory Applicat
  3. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199609)47:9<701::AID-ASI6>3.0.CO;2-W
  4. faxon's 1997 preliminary subscription price projection.
    Newsletter on Serial Pricing Issues
  5. open access to the scientific journal literature.
    Journal of Biology
  6. Directory of Electronic Journals Newsletters and Academic Discussion List
  7. electronic journals in business schools: legitimacy, acceptance, and use.
    J Assoc Inf Syst
  8. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199412)45:10<760::AID-ASI7>3.0.CO;2-H
  9. 10.1023/A:1016059004916
  10. 10.2307/2392832
  11. 10.2307/2393511
  12. 10.1287/mnsc.47.9.1173.9785
  13. 10.1145/975817.975821
  14. 10.1509/jmkg.64.3.1.18033
  15. 10.1016/0048-7333(86)90027-2
  16. Consumer Product Development
  17. 10.1016/S0065-2458(05)67003-9
  18. Scholarly Publishing The Electronic Frontier
  19. Scientific Periodical Their Historical Development Characteristics and Control
  20. Scholarly Publishing The Electronic Frontier
  21. Scholarly Publishing The Electronic Frontier
  22. the cost-profiles of alternative approaches to journal-publishing
    Fiesole Collection Retreat
  23. Scholarly Publishing The Electronic Frontier
  24. 10.3998/3336451.0004.106
  25. Scholarly Publishing The Electronic Frontier
  26. 10.1002/asi.4630330402
  27. Economics of Electronic Publishing Cost Issues
  28. the eies experience: electronic information exchange system
    Bulletin of the American Soc for Information Science
  29. Managing Strategic Innovation and Change
  30. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199412)45:10<771::AID-ASI9>3.0.CO;2-7
  31. 10.2307/3069325
  32. 10.1108/EUM0000000004811
  33. 10.1002/asi.10375
  34. technology-driven and market-driven life cycles: implications for multinational corporate…
    Columbia J World Bus
  35. Case Study Research Design and Methods
  36. Managing Strategic Innovation and Change
  37. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199403)45:2<73::AID-ASI2>3.0.CO;2-5
  38. Journal Ranking and Average Impact Factors of Basic and Allied Sciences
  39. The Sources of Innovation
  40. the future of scientific journals: lesson from the past
    Information Technology and Libraries