Get your Information Systems Research paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.1
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 17 August, 2026
Submitting to Information Systems Research goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Information Systems Research guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Information Systems Research. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Information Systems Research journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Information Systems Research guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Information Systems Research guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
| Element | Information Syst Res requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured abstract of not more than 300 words. No specific requirements differ by article type; the same 300-word limit applies to Research Articles, Research Commentaries, and Research Notes |
| Main text | Research Articles: Maximum 32 pages of text, no more than 38 pages total including all material (references, appendixes, tables, figures). Research Commentaries: No more than 20 pages with up to maximum of 8 pages of figures and tables. Research Notes: Length not explicitly specified but described as promoting dialog through incremental extensions; typically shorter than Research Articles |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Authors should select keywords from a list available within ScholarOne Manuscripts to describe their paper's theoretical and methodological orientation. No specific count or range is stated in the guidelines. Keywords are used for Senior Editor, Associate Editor, and reviewer selection |
| References | INFORMS reference style. In-text citations are author-year format (e.g., Norman 1977 or (Norman 1977)). References listed alphabetically by author surname. Full style guide available at https://pubsonline.informs.org/pb-assets/INFORMSReferencesStyle-1513283897320.pdf |
| Peer review | Double-anonymous peer review (also called double-blind). Both authors and reviewers are anonymous to one another throughout the review process |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/isr |
Read the Information Systems Research guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Information Systems Research in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Information Syst Res papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Information Systems Research journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Information Systems Research guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).