3rd Annual JOMSR Guided "Pub" Crawl

The Southern Management Association (SMA) is proud to present a comprehensive multi-part paper development workshop aimed at facilitating the publication (i.e., “pub”) of high-quality theory testing and replication studies in the Journal of Management Scientific Reports (JOMSR).

The 3rd Annual “Guided JOMSR ‘Pub’ Crawl” will guide participants through every step of the process from developing a research question (Part 1) to working with an assigned “Scholarly Barback” to assist with study refinement (Part 2) to presenting proposed studies (Part 3) and, ultimately, designing, conducting, analyzing, and writing a complete manuscript to be submitted to JOMSR.

We are excited to announce that the 3rd Annual SMA JOMSR Pub Crawl will be organized around the overarching theme of Understudied Contexts in Management Research. The goal of this year’s Pub Crawl is to advance management and organization scholarship by examining the extent to which existing theories are confirmed, refined, or challenged when applied to contexts that have received relatively limited scholarly attention. This may also include studies that replicate published research conducted in mainstream contexts in less-studied ones. Within this overarching theme, participants may self-select into one of two contextual emphases:

The first emphasis focuses on African contexts. Submissions in this category should be aligned with, and will potentially be considered for, the Africa Context Special Issue if submitted by the deadline of March 31, 2027 (the special issue call for papers will soon be posted on the JOMSR website). 

The second emphasis includes other understudied contexts, such as:

  • regions in the Global South outside of Africa and China, non-Western organizational forms (e.g., market collectives, tribal organizations),
  • informal or hybrid economies, stigmatized industries (e.g., adult entertainment, cannabis industry),
  • populations that are typically underrepresented in management research (indigenous people; refugee/migrant workers; formerly incarcerated people).

Submissions in this category may be developed toward a future special issue on understudied contexts or positioned for consideration in a regular, non-specified JOMSR issue.

Additional details surrounding this year’s Pub Crawl will be provided during information sessions held on the following dates:

March 24th from 9am-10am EDT

March 26th from 12:30pm-1:30pm EDT

Attendance is required at one of the information sessions in order to participate in the Pub Crawl. Registration is required and can be completed through this link:

Pub Crawl Information Session Registration

The Pub Crawl Process

Step 1 of the 2026 JOMSR Pub Crawl consists of live brainstorming and information sessions that officially launch the program and orient participants to expectations, timelines, and deliverables. Two sessions are offered to maximize accessibility: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 at 9:00am ET and Thursday, March 26th, 2026 at 12:30pm ET. Attendance at either session fulfills the Step 1 requirement, ensuring flexibility for participants across time zones and schedules.

These sessions are intentionally interactive, providing space for participants to ask questions, clarify requirements, and begin shaping their initial research ideas. The sessions also establish a shared understanding of the Pub Crawl’s developmental philosophy, emphasizing feedback, revision, and engagement over one-off submissions.

Step 2 requires participants to develop and submit a concise 2–3 page proposal (i.e., an extended abstract) by May 1st, 2026 using the Guided “Pub” Crawl submission system. This proposal serves as an early articulation of the research idea, allowing for formative feedback while there is still ample time for refinement and to provide information for pairing participants with their Scholarly Barback.

In Step 3, participants are assigned a Scholarly Barback in late May or early June. The Barback plays a critical mentorship role, offering targeted guidance, helping participants interpret feedback, and supporting the evolution of the project. This relationship is designed to be constructive and developmental rather than evaluative. We ask that the Scholarly Barback meets with the participant twice virtually over the course of the summer to provide guidance and feedback.

For Step 4, participants are expected to submit a full proposal by September 1st, 2026. This final submission reflects the cumulative work of the preceding months, incorporating feedback from the Scholarly Barbacks. The full proposal should include the introduction, overview of theory being tested/paper being replicated (including hypotheses), theoretical development of any new hypotheses, and proposed research design. Preliminary results or a short feasibility study may be included, if available.

The final page of this proposal should include and indicate the following:

  • Funding Requests & Budget (if seeking funding). Participants in the 2026 JOMSR Pub Crawl may request up to $1,000 per proposal, with a total of $6,000 available across all submissions. Importantly, funding requests do not need to be in fixed increments, but participants may specify the amount they need, up to the $1,000 cap. If requesting funding, a budget should be provided outlining the costs the funding will be used to cover. Participants also have the option to pursue the Pub Crawl solely for feedback, without requesting financial support.
  • Presentation Mode. All participants are expected to present their work, regardless of whether funding is requested. Presentations are viewed as a core component of the developmental and reputational value of the “Pub” Crawl, benefiting both participants and the JOMSR/SMA community. For U.S.-based participants, in-person presentation at the annual SMA meeting in St. Pete Beach is the default expectation. Participants who are non-U.S.-based or unable to travel may submit a recorded presentation, due by October 1st, for review and feedback by fellows. Participants should indicate in their proposal the mode of their presentation (in-person or recorded).
  • SMA Conference Registration Fee Waiver Waivers may be available for one presenter per paper if the presenter is a doctoral student presenting a doctoral student led paper. Participants should indicate if they would like to be considered for a registration fee waiver in their final proposal. Funding is subject to approval.