Association for Information Systems
PO Box 92523
Atlanta, GA 30314-0523 USA
In this interview, Martin Mocker shares his editorial vision as the new Editor-in-Chief of MIS Quarterly Executive (MISQE). He discusses how MISQE can strengthen practitioner impact by improving discoverability, supporting authors in writing for executives, and spotlighting timely themes such as enterprise AI and cybersecurity.
AIS: As the new Editor-in-Chief of MIS Quarterly Executive (MISQE) as of January 1, 2026. What feels most important to you stepping into this role?
Mocker: Making advances on fulfilling our mission of encouraging practice-oriented research and delivering impactful insights to managers. Practitioners make our research possible. MISQE is one way the IS research community can give back by translating strong research into insight leaders can use. We owe this to practitioners.
AIS: How do you think about “impact” for a journal like MISQE?
Mocker: Citations matter, but they do not tell the whole story. I care most about whether practitioners use MISQE articles directly, whether our content shapes decisions, and whether it is adopted in MBA and Executive MBA teaching.
AIS: What do you see as the biggest barriers to making research more usable for practitioners?
Mocker: One barrier is discoverability. Practitioners have many sources competing for attention. MISQE needs to be part of the set of places leaders naturally consider when searching for guidance on digital issues. Another barrier is that writing for practitioners is a distinct capability. We have developed strong systems for rigor in academia, but we need to develop equally strong systems for relevance and communication.
AIS: So how does MISQE help close that gap?
Martin Mocker: Two things matter: getting closer to practitioners, and enabling authors. On the practitioner side, I want MISQE to deepen ties with practitioner communities, including organizations like SIM, meeting practitioners where they are, and to incorporate practitioner perspectives more systematically. That can include involving practitioners more in review teams and showcasing practitioner voices through formats like interviews and the existing MISQE Insights category.
On the author side, I want MISQE to do more to help scholars develop the skill of communicating research to executive audiences. Workshops and outreach to business schools, DBA and PhD programs can help. We should treat the ability to translate research into practice as something we actively develop and value.
AIS: MISQE has a distinctive review model. What do you want to preserve or evolve in the editorial process?
Mocker: The developmental nature of the review process is a real differentiator. Review teams are moderated by a senior editor, reviewers form their assessments, and then the team meets by video to discuss the paper and align on feedback. The senior editor synthesizes that input so authors receive coherent guidance instead of conflicting instructions.
I do not want to change that. I want to make it more consistent. Authors should experience a predictable, high-quality MISQE process. And in some cases, we can make the process even more developmental, such as video calls to help authors understand revision expectations when needed. If you have strong research with practical relevance, we would love to see it published in MISQE.