SBM ITB held DMSN Talk Series 2021 entitled “Strategy to Publish as the First Author and Publishing Action Research Study in Top-tier Journal: Soft Systems Methodology”, Thursday (30/9/2021). In the event, SBM ITB invited Endra Gunawan, a lecturer of the Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering graduating from Nagoya University (Japan), and Ruby Hermant, the Doctoral Candidate of SBM ITB who had successfully published his journal in the JORS Journal recently.
With the title “A Rookie Experience Sharing in Publishing Dissertation on SSM”, Ruby provided some final tips for turning a dissertation into publishable article: choosing the right journal, writing a cover letter properly and correctly, and using proper academic English.
“Choosing the right journal can be started by starting a query about calculating research interest based on the journal,” said Ruby.
He also showed the steps to make a good cover letter: check site editor, provide an introduction to the topic and benefits in theory building, research interests and impacts, and presents evidence that the topic presented is of interest to the intended journal. In working in his dissertation, Ruby suggests using an application or software to help check the academic English used, such as Grammarly.
Ruby has 17 years of sales marketing experience in various well-known companies in Indonesia and eight years in consulting and teaching. He also explained his reasons for choosing JORS as the place to publish his dissertation because Checkland, the father of SSM, has published his work several times in the Journal of the Operational Research Society (JORS).
Ruby admitted that her journey to publish in a Q1 Journal was not a straightforward and easy journey. She needed to wait a year from the first submission process to formal acceptance.
In writing his SSM dissertation, Ruby uses the 7-S framework. He believes that using 7-S framework since the investigation stage can minimize the need for gradual discovery that may require repetition. In his experience, the 7-S framework enable him to uncover transformations relevant to the respective worldview as many as possible on the first attempt. However, interviews and debates are still needed to ensure that SSM practitioners continue to have discussions with stakeholders.