Performance analysis and improvement of article publication processes using process mining.

Abstract

In recent years, the publication of scientific manuscripts in Iran has been on the rise. This growth is attributed to factors such as the expansion of graduate programs, the requirement for faculty members and students to publish research papers, and the impact of publication numbers on university and faculty rankings. Additionally, factors such as faculty evaluation, university rankings, doctoral student admissions, and faculty tenure track have significantly influenced this trend.

On the other hand, the manuscript publication process involves several critical stages, including writing, peer review, revision, and final publication, each of which faces challenges and time constraints. Therefore, utilizing modern methods such as process mining to analyze and improve these processes can help reduce time, enhance efficiency, and increase the quality of manuscripts.

Objective: The primary objective of this research is to analyze the performance and improve the processes of scientific manuscript publication using the process mining approach. This study seeks to answer two key questions: 1) What is the model of the manuscript publication process? and 2) What are the bottlenecks and activities that consume the most time or occur most frequently in the publication process? Furthermore, this research emphasizes the importance of improving the quality of publication processes and increasing their efficiency to reduce the time required for manuscript publication and enhance the scientific impact of manuscripts.

Methodology: This research employs the process mining approach as an effective method for analyzing, improving, and redesigning organizational processes. Process mining is a method that analyzes data recorded in information systems to discover process models and identify inefficiencies. This approach consists of three main phases: 1) discovery, 2) conformance, and 3) improvement. In the discovery phase, without using any prior information (a-priori), recorded data is used to generate a process model. This model helps us understand how processes are actually executed in reality. The conformance phase involves comparing the process model with real data to identify any discrepancies between the planned process and actual behavior. Finally, the improvement phase, by identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies, focuses on designing and implementing changes to optimize processes.

Findings: The research findings revealed that the scientific manuscript publication process consists of multiple stages, each of which requires different amounts of time and resources. The most important stages of this process include receiving the manuscript through the journal system, initial evaluation according to key indicators, similarity checking, sending the manuscript to expert reviewers, following up on author revisions, and finally, final approval for publication. These stages may vary slightly in different journals, but the overall process is similar.

One of the main bottlenecks identified in this research is the time-consuming nature of the peer review and revision process. This part of the process causes the most delay and can sometimes take several months. For example, the time spent on initial evaluation of manuscripts, similarity checking, and reviewer feedback is usually longer than expected. Process mining data analysis showed that some of these delays can be reduced by using automation tools. In particular, using automated similarity checking systems can reduce the time spent on initial manuscript evaluation and accelerate the process.

Other research findings showed that the peer review process for scientific manuscripts in higher-level journals is usually more complex and time-consuming. This complexity is due to the large number of submitted manuscripts and the need for specialized reviews. On the other hand, researchers found that improving the scheduling of different stages of the publication process and using advanced tools such as information systems can help reduce delays. Additionally, improving coordination between editorial board members and reviewers can accelerate the review and revision process.

Conclusion: This research has used the process mining approach to analyze and improve the manuscript publication processes in scientific journals. The results show that one of the main challenges in this process is the time-consuming nature of the peer review and revision stages. Therefore, using automation tools and process optimization can help reduce the time spent on publishing manuscripts. Additionally, identifying bottlenecks and weaknesses in the process can lead to improving the quality of manuscripts and increasing the efficiency of scientific journals. It is recommended that scientific journals use advanced approaches such as process mining and modern information tools to analyze and improve their processes in order to enhance quality and reduce the time required for manuscript publication. Finally, this research emphasizes the importance of the role of scientific journals in knowledge exchange and improving the scientific level of society. Improving publication processes can lead to improving the quality of scientific manuscripts and increasing their impact at the national and international levels.