STF Submission window:
Abstract submission deadline is December 31, 2026
JBL Special Topic Forum
To the Point! Becoming Influencers to Design Supply Chains that Deliver
Influencers communicate with the power of TNT—today’s news today! Join this JBL Special Topic Forum (STF)
We invite research on “hot topics” in developing SC systems and capabilities. The research must be germane, current, provocative, and accessible. Simply put, we are looking for original research that helps decision-makers leverage SCM to create value at the pace the world is changing today.
Read/download the full call for papers by clicking here.
Sample works from the last JBL STF “To the Point”:
Colicchia, C., M. C. Carissimi, S. Viscardi, et al. 2026. “ The Way Forward in Fashion e-Commerce Returns: Enhancing Eco-Efficiency.” Journal of Business Logistics 47, no. 4: e70090. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.70090.
Culot, G., M. Podrecca, A. S. Patrucco, and G. Nassimbeni. 2026. “ Artificial Intelligence in Public Procurement: Aligning Operational Capacity, Legitimacy, and Public Value.” Journal of Business Logistics 47, no. 4: e70088. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.70088.
Madhavaram, S., K. T. Manis, M. Belford, and R. G. Richey Jr.. 2026. “ Microfoundations of Adaptive Decision-Making Capability: How Chief Supply Chain Officers Convert Technology-Enabled Visibility Into Coordinated Action.” Journal of Business Logistics 47, no. 4: e70096. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.70096.
Paluzzi, H., M. J. Marzolf, T. Tokar, and H. Chen. 2026. “ The Case for Doing Less: Rethinking Communication With Consumers During Logistics Service Failures.” Journal of Business Logistics 47, no. 4: e70089. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.70089.
We look forward to receiving your submission!
The Idea behind this STF
“Inspired by the best in academic publishing—this STF is for researchers who want their logistics and supply chain work to matter now.”
With the ever-increasing speed of change in business and society, academia needs to move at a faster pace, bringing today’s best thinking to decision makers while it is still fresh. To stay relevant and make a difference, we believe that logistics and supply chain scholars must learn how to influence real-world decision-making.
That means producing research that is current, provocative, relevant, and accessible—sharing ideas that people care about, when they need them. In short, we're looking for insights based on current data that help decision-makers create value at the pace the world is changing today.
At the same time, we asked ourselves: Why do many academic articles take two, three, or more years to publish, spanning 40–50 pages, and require multiple (often slow) rounds of revisions? We believe we can learn from other scientific disciplines that have embraced more responsive, high-impact publishing.
Our benchmarks: Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, and Science. Take The Lancet, for instance, a leading medical journal, where the highest-quality research is published in under 4,000 words.
Major Steps
Abstract Submission
Further develop your research and submit your unique abstract.
Submission window:
October 29 - December 31, 2026
Invitation for full paper submission
Selected abstracts will be invited for full paper submission. The submission window is April 1 – 30, 2027. All papers will undergo a focused—i.e., review, revision, review, revision, decision—double-blind review process. The goal is to make final decisions before the end of 2027.
For detailed information: Submission Guidelines
Guidance from the Editor Team
The STF team will host a global online feedback & developmental workshop at the end of January 2027.
STF Requirements
Be empirical, based on data collected in 2026 or 2027 (if secondary data is used, it should be the latest available).
Be concise, i.e., 3,500 to 4,000 words in length including references. Abstract, figures and tables do not count against the limit. Authors are encouraged to use online appendices keeping conciseness in mind.
Be reader-friendly—for both scholars and practitioners. It should resonate to enable insight and impact.
Conduct high-quality, original research, i.e., explore “cool” topics, employing theory to make sense of chaos.
Align with Journal of Business Logistics standards.