Have you ever sent out a paper you wrote to a journal, and you did not hear about the review for the better part of a year or even longer? We have.

Have you ever received a decision letter that left you wondering how to proceed? Perhaps that decision letter contained contradictory or irrational guidance? We have.

We designed the paper review system for ISI journals to overcome these and other problems with the journal peer-review process. Instead of the old production model (reject defects), we at ISI journals use a continual process improvement model. While fewer than half of the papers submitted make it into print, we view our role as mentors to all authors, sharing with them our wisdom and the wisdom of our reviewers, to assist them to improve their submission. Most papers that we do publish undergo several rounds of revisions. 

We also designed the system to avoid the problem of delayed reviewing of manuscripts. We endeavor to get back to the authors with our initial assessment within two months of their submission. To do this, we have abandoned the model of asking Editors and Reviewers to accept assignments. We expect Editorial board members to accept their assignment. 

This manual is to get us all on the same page, to inform you about the ISI philosophy of the paper review process, and to share with you how to use the ISI Paper Review automated system so you can to do your part.