Editorial

Citation

Matlay, H. (2016), "Editorial", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 23 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-12-2015-0174

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Volume 23, Issue 1.

The first issue of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (JSEBD), Volume 23 (2016) marks my 16th year as Editor of this influential publication. Each year, as I sit down to write the Editorial for the first issue of a new volume, I reflect upon the distance travelled since I have accepted to lead this influential journal through its journey of change and strategic development.

At the time that I became the Editor of JSBED, in 2001, the journal was positioned at the bottom of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Journal League. It had a poor reputation as a beginners’ outlet, and it sourced all contributions from a minor annual small business conference held in the UK. It was one of a number of newly acquired journals by Emerald Publishing Group, and previously JSBED had experienced a turbulent and uncertain existence. Its original editor became ill and died soon after JSBED commenced publication and his successor resigned a few years later in protest of the journal being sold without due consultation or notice. At the same time, the vast majority of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board also left the journal. Many predicted that JSBED would succumb to its challenges and unfavourable circumstances, and fail within a year. Fortuitously, however, Emerald Publishing Group offered the journal security, initial investment and a stable home amongst its expanding portfolio of entrepreneurship-oriented journals.

As Editor, I derive a great deal of personal and professional satisfaction from the journal’s record of publishing achievements, despite many changes and tribulations as well as occasional setbacks encountered over the years. Working closely with managing and assistant editors, we have overcome fierce global competition to reach a respectable and well-deserved position amongst the many journals that compete for premiership in the field of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In my editorial work, I have been greatly assisted and generously supported by a number of collaborators, advisors and members of the editorial board. Many of the contributors to JSBED, both from the UK and abroad, continue to submit high-quality articles as well as to provide refereeing support, constructive feedback and expert advice on a wide range of related issues. Strategically, we will continue to focus upon quality and diversity, as well as the publication of cutting edge articles in new, emerging and controversial aspects of small business and entrepreneurship development. Typically, the majority of contributions to this journal originate outside the UK and this ensures a rich and varied empirical content and a fast growing international reputation. It is our intention to pursue organic growth as well as enhanced our journal’s overall ranking. Thus, we aim not only to maintain our position amongst the premier outlets in this field of academic endeavour, but also to continuously improve the focus, content and impact of JSBED, at both national and international levels.

In concluding this Editorial, I would like to extend my gratitude to all those individuals who have contributed, directly and indirectly, to the publication of this issue, including authors, referees, advisers and the production team at Emerald Group Publishing.

Harry Matlay