“Engaging with Policy”

Call for Policy Contributions – Special Collection: “Engaging with Policy”

Journal: Project Leadership and Society
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 15 June 2027

Overview

This collection—published by Elsevier—seeks to bridge the persistent "rigor-relevance" gap in project management research by fostering a direct, sustained dialogue between project scholars, policymakers, project leaders, and decision-makers. As part of a broader "responsibility turn" in management disciplines, this initiative encourages researchers to translate academic insights into actionable, plain-language contributions that help shape societal policy and improve project delivery.

Submission Types

• Policy Notes (1,500–2,000 words): Short communications based on peer-reviewed, published research that translate complex theoretical findings into "so what" reflections for practitioners and policymakers.

• Policy Essays (up to 5,000 words): In-depth reflections on systemic issues, discussing how research and policy reports can (or fail to) change practice and identifying barriers to engagement.

• Policy Interviews (1,000–2,000 words): Interviews conducted by researchers with senior stakeholders, capturing reflections on evolving practices or roles in facilitating complex, large-scale projects.

Key Research Focus Areas

• Societal Value: Addressing how projects can contribute to grand societal challenges—such as the green transition, infrastructure development, and economic growth—beyond traditional delivery metrics.

• Evidence-Based Decision Making: Providing robust research on what works, when, and under what conditions to prevent costly errors and improve institutional confidence.

• The "Dark Side" of Projects: Critical reflections on systemic challenges, including corruption, unethical practices, and the negative consequences of projects for stakeholders or the environment.

• Policy Implementation: Case studies of successful (or unsuccessful) project research integration into government or private sector policy, with reflections on actionable lessons learned.

Submission Details

• Submission portal: https://www.editorialmanager.com/pls/default.aspx

• Instructions: Select the appropriate submission type ("Policy note", "Policy essay", or "Policy interview") from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

• Language Style: Contributions must be written in plain, accessible language, avoiding excessive academic jargon, and incorporating visuals to ensure they reach a wide audience, including those in the public sector and industry.

• Review Process: Contributions undergo a single-blind review focusing on the relevance of the topic, clarity of dissemination, and the quality/evidence base of the underlying research.

Guest Editor Team

• Gro Holst Volden, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (lead, gro.holst.volden@ntnu.no)

• Daniella Jenkins, University of Bristol

• Dominic Doe Ahiaga-Dagbui, Deakin University

• Per Svejvig, Aarhus University

• Martina Huemann, University College London / Vienna University of Economics and Business

Why This Issue Matters

Project scholarship often risks becoming "inward-looking," detached from the real-world problems it was originally meant to solve. This initiative—published in an open-access journal—provides a proactive dualism where research feeds practice, and practice engages, reflects, and responds to academic developments. By making research accessible to non-academic stakeholders, this collection seeks to fill the chasm that is currently occupied by perspectives with limited evidence or vested interests.

ServiceSetu Academics — Premier Platform for Academic Opportunities & Research Collaboration

Visit official website of the publisher