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Editorial The old order changes Tehemton E. Udwadia Chairman, Editorial Board, Indian Journal of Surgery Code Number: is03023 No one is more aware than the Editor and Editorial Board that the Indian Journal of Surgery (IJS) needs to improve, and improve drastically. The Journal has reached a plateau from which under current working methodology it cannot ascend. The inordinate delay and unacceptable errors in what was sincerely intended as an important first issue for 2003 has been the catalyst which has ensured we have a new approach to the IJS. That the delay and errors were beyond the control of the Editorial Board places a greater onus on the Editorial Board for radical reform. Our objective is to streamline the entire editorial process and to become an efficiency-oriented Journal with the help of an established medical journal Publishing House, Medknow Publications, with whom we have agreed on a three-year contract. This perhaps will entail greater financial input, which we are convinced the results will justify. Every author deserves the earliest visibility of his or her work through an authenticated published medium. Journals, one of the most authenticated medium suffer from a lag period due to time spent in review and editorial process. In the traditional paper based peer review system, which we currently utilize, a manuscript spends more time in traveling than with reviewers, and we also spend significant resources in correspondence, postage and maintenance of records. This expenditure is gradually increasing due to complexities compelling us to use more number of reviewers per manuscript. Lack of storage space for manuscript received and loss of natural resources are additional reasons to look for an alternative to paper-based manuscript management. With immediate effect, we plan an electronic or web-based peer review system which reproduces the functionality of the editorial office on the web to act as a central `workspace' _ everyone logs into one area and perform their respective duties. Indian Journal of Surgery, as a result of past problems and hurdles has decided to move to such a system _ `Journal on the Web'. With this virtual office of the Journal (https://journalweb.com/ijs), manuscripts can be received and processed anytime and from anywhere and editors and reviewers can work from any computer. The system eliminates use of post or courier for sending manuscripts and comments, the net result is decreased time in processing of submitted manuscripts. The system provides facility to submit articles along with images. Once submitted, articles can be tracked for their progress during the review process till publication. Authors can check the comments of the Editorial Board from the site and revised articles can be submitted by a single click. While manuscripts on paper will be accepted, authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts online. With this web-based manuscript processing, we aim to reduce the submission to decision time to up to 8 weeks, improve the transparency in the management of articles, utilize reviewers from all over the world at no cost, and provide opportunity to authors from outside India to publish their work in the IJS. Authors desire access to the largest possible audience to which to disseminate their findings; researchers, and readers, need the broadest possible access to the relevant literature. A website provides improved, ready access to information through electronic search mechanisms, interactivity - enabling letters to editor and discussions concerning articles to be created and distributed online and linked to the articles in question; faster dissemination of scientific information by expediting peer review, editorial and production work, without a time lag. In addition, articles available online via Open Access have higher impact rates than proprietary online and print articles. Considering these advantages of web-publishing the IJS is in process of putting its full text searchable content on the World Wide Web. At present a basic site has been set-up at www.indianjsurg.com which will be changed to a full-fledged functional site in a few months. One of the important objectives of our journal is to act as a showcase of surgery and surgical research performed in India, and place it on the international platform. With this is mind, we have put the full text content of the journal in collaboration with Bioline International on https://www.bioline.org.br/is. This additional availability of the full text content of the journal will help to increase the visibility and accessibility of the published articles internationally. It is obvious that running and developing a journal calls for teamwork, a team devoted to a single cause - improvement. Hence, the Editorial Board depends on members of the Association of Surgeons of India who would be willing to work together with us as contributors and reviewers with the aim to take our journal to international heights. We request the help of all those who wish to be part of this aggressive movement. Copyright 2003 - Indian Journal of Surgery. Also available online at http://www.indianjsurg.com |
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