Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics

Prior Issues

The Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics is a joint publication with the International Society of Parametric Analysts. It is a professional journal dedicated to promoting excellence in cost estimating, cost analysis, and cost management. Its objective is to improve the theory and practice of cost estimating, analysis, management, and research results among “cost” educators and practitioners around the world. The journal is offered as a benefit to both SCEA and ISPA members. Individual copies of past journals are available here. Annual subscriptions (that include copies of the SCEA’s National Estimator and ISPA’s Parametric World) can be purchased for $55. Online order form will be available soon, however, in the meantime please use this order form or contact the Joint ISPA/SCEA Office to purchase.

Submitting Papers

Both empirical and conceptual papers are considered for each issue. Preference is given to empirical papers that demonstrate the application of cost analysis to project management and include well-defined research methodology, analysis, and results. Conceptual papers can be commentary in nature, however, preference is given to qualitative research such as literature reviews.

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MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION GUIDELINES
The Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics

Submission Requirements
Authors should send an electronic copy of their manuscript (and survey instrument, if applicable) for review to either editor. There is no review fee. The email to the editor must request review and possible publication, state that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not under review for another journal, and include the corresponding author’s address, telephone, and e-mail address. The corresponding author will receive all editorial correspondence.

Format

1. All manuscripts should be formatted to print on 8 ½ x 11-inch paper and be double-spaced, except for indented quotation.
2. Manuscripts should be as concise as the subject and research methods permit.
3. Margins should be at least one inch from top, bottom and sides to facilitate editing and duplication.
4. To assure anonymous review, authors should not identify themselves directly or indirectly in their papers. Single authors should not use the editorial “we.”
5. A cover page should include the title of the paper; the name, title, affiliation, and email address of each author in the order it should appear at publication; any acknowledgements; and a footnote indicating whether the author would be willing to share the data (see later paragraph in this statement).
6. All pages, including tables, appendices and references, should be serially numbered.
7. Headings should be arranged so that major headings are centered, bold and capitalized. Second level headings should be flush left, bold and both upper and lower case. Third level headings should be flush left, bold, italic and bold upper and lower case. Fourth level headings should be paragraph indent, bold and lower case. Headings and subheadings should not be numbered. For example:

Abstract
An abstract of 100 to 150 words should be presented on a separate page immediately preceding the text of the manuscript. The abstract page should contain the title of the manuscript but should not identify the author(s). Abstracts should contain a concise statement of the purpose of the manuscript, the primary research method or approaches used, and the main results or conclusions.

Footnotes
Textual footnotes should be used only for extensions and useful excursions whose inclusion in the body of the manuscript might disrupt the continuity.  Footnotes should be double-spaced, numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript with superscript Arabic numerals, and placed the end of the text.

Tables and Figures
Authors should note the following general requirements:

1. Each table and figure (graphic) should appear on a separate page and should be placed at the end of the text. Each should bear an Arabic number and a complete title indicating the exact contents of the table or figure. Tables should be sent as text-tables (not as graphics that cannot be manipulated).
2. A reference to each table or figure should be made in the text, but should not refer to position (e.g., above, below, next page) as final layout may require different placement.
3. The author should indicate by marginal notation where each table or figure should be inserted in the text, e.g., (Insert table X here).
4. Tables or figures should be reasonably interpreted without reference to the text.
5. Source lines and notes should be included as necessary.
6. When information is not available, use “NA” capitalized with no slash between.
7. Figures must be prepared in a form suitable for printing. Figures should be high resolution – at least 300 dpi – or in their original format (Excel file/PowerPoint slide/MSWord file).

Mathematical Notation
Mathematical notation should be employed only where its rigor and precision are necessary, and in such circum­stances authors should explain in the narrative format the principal operations performed. Notations should be avoided in footnotes. Unusual symbols, particularly if handwritten, should be identified in the margin when they first appear.  Displayed material should clearly indicate the alignment, superscripts and subscripts. Equations should be numbered in parentheses flush with right-hand margin.

Questionnaires and Experimental Instruments
Manuscripts reporting on field surveys or experiments should include questionnaires, cases, interview plans or other instruments used in the study.

Documentation
Citations: Work cited should use the:  “author-date system” keyed to a list of works in the reference list (see below). Authors should make an effort to include the relevant age numbers in the cited works.

1. In the text, works are cited as follows: author’s last name and date, without comma, in parentheses; for example, Jones 1987); with two authors: (Jones and Freeman, 1973), note that “and” is spelled out – not “&”; with two or more works by one author: (Jones 1985 1987).
2. Unless confusion would result, do not use “p.” or “pp.” before page number: for example, (Jones 1987, 115).
3. When the reference list contains more than one work of an author published in the same year, the suffix a, b, etc., follows the date in the text citation: for example (Jones 1987a) or (Jones 1987a; Freeman 1985b).
4. If an author’s name is mentioned in the text, it need not be repeated in the citation; for example, “Jones (1987, 115) says…”
5. Citations to institutional works should use acronyms or short titles where practicable: for example, (GAO 1966); (AICPA Cohen Commission Report 1977).  Where brief, the full title of an institutional work might be shown in a citation: for example, (ICAEW The Corporate Report 1975).
6. If the manuscript refers to statutes, legal treatises or court cases, citations acceptable in law reviews should be used.

Reference List: Every manuscript must include a list of references containing only those works cited. Each entry should contain all data necessary for unambiguous identification.

1. Arrange citations in alphabetical order according to surname of the first author or the name of the institution responsible for the citation.
2. Use authors’ initials instead of proper names.
3. In listing more than one name in references (Rayburn, L., and B. Harrelson, …) there should always be a comma before “and.”
4. Dates of publication should be placed immediately after authors’ names.
5. Titles of journals should not be abbreviated and should be in italics.
6. Multiple works by the same author(s) should be listed in chronological order of publication. Two or more works by the same author(s) in the same year are distinguished by letters after the date.

Sample entries are as follows:
American Accounting Association, Committee on the Future, Content, and Scope of Accounting Education (The Bedford Committee). 1986. Future accounting education: Preparing for the expanding profession. Issues in Accounting Education (Spring): 168-195.
Ajzen, I. 1987. Attitudes, traits, and actions. Dispositional prediction of behavior in personality and social psychology.  Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, edited by L. Berkowitz. New York, NY: Academic Press.
Grizzle, J., C. Starmer, and G. Koch.  1969. Analysis of categorical data by linear models. Biometrics 25: 489-504.

Notes: Notes are not to be used for documentation. As noted in previous paragraph, textual notes should be used only for extensions and useful excursions of information that, if included in the body of the text, might disrupt its continuity.

Policy on Data Availability
Authors are encouraged to make their data available for use by others in extending or replicating results reported in their articles. Authors of articles that report data-dependent results should footnote the status of data availability and, when pertinent, this should be accompanied by information on how the data may be obtained.

Page Proofs and Offprints
Page proofs of the article will be sent to the corresponding author.  These should be carefully proofread. Except for typographical errors, corrections should be minimal, and rewriting is text is not permitted. Corrected page proofs must be returned with 48 hours of receipt.

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STATEMENT OF EDITORIAL POLICY

The Journal is a refereed journal dedicated to promoting excellence in cost estimating, cost analysis, and cost management. Its objective is to improve the theory and practice of cost estimating, analysis and management by promoting high quality applied and theoretical research.

The Journal provides a forum for exchanging ideas, opinions, and research results among ‘cost’ educators and practitioners around the world. The Journal seeks to publish research that is interesting, stimulating, and intellectually rigorous. Papers involving a variety of topics, settings and research methods are solicited. The methodology used in papers submitted for publication may be analytical or empirical. Manuscripts related to a broad range of cost topics for any sector of the economy manufacturing, service, retail, government, and not-for-profit are desired. New theories, topical areas, and research methods are encouraged. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, industrial engineering, economics, health care, operations/production management, construction management, business administration, and cost (managerial) accounting.

Manuscripts should be sent to either of the Editors who will initiate the review process. The review will use three criteria for evaluating papers: (1) readability; (2) relevance; and (3) reliability. All papers accepted for publication in the Journal must have a high level of readability. Poor readability can impede the ability of a reviewer to evaluate the contribution of a paper and may lead to rejection. It is necessary to ensure the paper can be readily understood by individuals involved in the area discussed in the paper. References should not impede the flow of the paper and unnecessary obscure jargon should not be used. The details of the statistical methodology should be in an appendix rather than in the body of the paper if they are not central to the focus of the manuscript.

The second criterion is relevance. A paper is relevant if it has the potential to influence cost estimating, analysis, or management. A paper that appeals to a broad spectrum of readers or is unique or innovative has a better possibility of influencing practice and theory development and therefore, is more relevant that a paper without these features.

The third criterion is reliability. The paper is reliable if the conclusions of the paper can be reasonably inferred from the arguments. Reliability is not hard to assess when a paper is statistical or involves empirical research with which the reviewer is familiar. Authors can improve the probability of acceptance of a paper by including a section on the limitations of the research techniques. When a paper relies on verbal analysis, reliability is harder to assess. Reviewers have to depend on their own knowledge of the subject to ensure the arguments are relevant to the question addressed and that the paper is intentionally consistent.

In summary, for a manuscript to be acceptable for publication, the research question should be of interest to the intended readership, the research should be well-designed and well-executed, and the material should be presented effectively and efficiently.

Note:
Beginning January 2008, The Journal of Cost Analysis and Management and the Journal of Parametrics  merged with this new title - The Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics.

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Additional Information:

SCEA & ISPA Joint Office
527 Maple Ave. East, Suite 301
Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: 703-938-5090
FAX: 703-938-5091
Scea@sceaonline.net
www.sceaonline.org