From Theory to Impact – How Do Organizations Benefit from Systems Research?

From Theory to Impact – How Do Organizations Benefit from Systems Research?

Call for Papers | Special Issue

JOURNAL : Kybernetes

PUBLISHER: Emerald Publishing

SUBMISSION OPENS: 01 February 2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 30 November 2026

ABOUT THIS SPECIAL ISSUE

As a leading journal in systems research and cybernetics, Kybernetes puts a particular emphasis on formal modelling and theory development. A theory, however, is only as strong as its application. If it does not have any impact in practice, it will eventually disappear from scientific discourse.

This special issue turns attention to the added value of systemic and cybernetic approaches for organizational operations. It invites submissions that show how management, education, engineering, or any other domain in which formal modes of systems are relevant, benefit from theory in daily practice.

By collecting these submissions, the special issue takes a step beyond the horizon of academia to ensure that research stays in touch with the problems that organizations face in today's society. Organizational research and related disciplines have become increasingly concerned with grand challenges in society and the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Systems theory and cybernetics play an important role in this context, as they make it possible to look beyond unidimensional attempts for improvement and address more complex dynamics in society at different levels.

Articles concerned with the situation of the Global South or dynamic societies in the Eastern Hemisphere are particularly welcome, if they give first-hand evidence of specific questions relevant in these parts of the world and the responses that systems research provides.

ARTICLE TYPES ACCEPTED

This special issue welcomes a larger variety of contributions, including:

• Research Papers

• Case Studies

• Practitioner Papers

• Viewpoint Articles

• Technical Reports

All submissions are expected to present a clear argument, substantialize their claims with suitable evidence, and explain their contribution to the ongoing discourse in the journal.

SCOPE & THEME AREAS

We invite submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:

1. Leading change in dynamic societies — Applications of complex-adaptive systems models to guide organizational and societal change.

2. Educational systems and social transformation — Structure, practice, and impact of educational systems on employment, income, and social transformation.

3. AI, blockchain, and technical systems implementations — Added value of AI, blockchain, and other technical implementations of systems operations in organizational contexts.

4. Systems-oriented consulting — Effects and effectiveness of systems-oriented consulting services in organizational settings.

5. Limitations of systems designs — Exploring the boundaries of formal systems designs and their interplay with improvisation and heuristics.

6. Leadership systems development — Application and assessment of leadership systems development frameworks.

7. Cultural differences and systems models — How cultural differences and specificities affect the application of formal systems models across diverse contexts.

GUEST EDITORS

Diórgenes Mamedio ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

Jens-Henrik Söldner ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

Aigerim Kaumenova ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

KEY DEADLINES & DATES

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

How to submit: Manuscripts must be submitted via ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access available at: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/kyb

Author guidelines: Must be strictly followed. Full guidelines available at: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/k#jlp_author_guidelines

Selecting the special issue: At the appropriate submission step, authors must select the special issue title from the drop-down menu in response to "Please select the issue you are submitting to."

Eligibility: Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review.

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