How we work

A stronger operating model for every journal we support.

Harrowell brings strategy, operations, publishing technology and long-term stewardship into one coordinated way of working—built around the needs of the journal and the people responsible for it.

The Harrowell difference

Publishing works best when the whole operation is connected.

Most journals rely on a network of editors, suppliers, platforms and internal teams. The difficulty is rarely one individual task. It is the gap between them: unclear handoffs, fragmented information, uncertain accountability and change that is not carefully managed.

Harrowell closes those gaps. We establish an operating model that makes the work behind the journal understandable, governable and dependable—from editorial decision-making and production through to metadata, technology, reporting and development planning.

From assessment to long-term delivery

A disciplined approach to change and continuity.

The work is tailored to each engagement, but the operating discipline remains consistent. We make the current state clear, build the right delivery model, manage implementation carefully and keep improving the operation over time.

01

Understand

See the operation as it is.

We review the journal’s purpose, stakeholders, workflows, systems, service capacity, current risks and development ambitions.

02

Design

Create a model that fits.

We define services, roles, decision rights, information flows, delivery standards and the technology required to support the work.

03

Implement

Make change practical.

We manage handovers, OJS/PKP migrations, workflow setup and team support—using verification and continuity checks at every stage.

04

Develop

Keep the journal moving forward.

We use reporting, review and shared planning to improve performance, resolve issues and make the next stage of development visible.

One operating view

The disciplines a journal needs, working as one.

Harrowell does not treat publishing as a series of disconnected services. We coordinate the work across four operating areas, with clear ownership at their intersections.

Editorial

Editorial roles, peer review, policies, author and reviewer communication, issue handling and documented decision processes.

Operations

Service ownership, production schedules, quality controls, exception handling, reporting and practical day-to-day delivery.

Infrastructure

Platforms, integrations, content and data flows, metadata, discoverability, reporting and archive continuity.

Partnership

Governance, planning, review meetings, development priorities and clear arrangements between the people responsible for the journal.

What clients can expect

A professional relationship that is easy to manage.

Journal context first

We begin with the journal’s scholarly purpose, people, commitments and existing operation—not a pre-set service package.

One accountable model

The people, workflows, technology, information and review arrangements are designed to work together and made visible to everyone involved.

Continuity through change

Whether work begins with a transition, a service review or day-to-day delivery, we protect editorial continuity and the published record.

Built for different starting points

The level of support changes. The standard does not.

Some organisations engage Harrowell around a defined challenge: a transition, a workflow review, a production requirement, a platform change or a publishing project. Others need the long-term stewardship of a journal or portfolio.

In each case, the work begins with a clear scope and an agreed operating rhythm. We bring in the services required, establish decision and reporting arrangements, and create a practical route from immediate needs to sustainable improvement.

Work with Harrowell

Build a publishing operation with the structure to last.

We work with journal owners, publishers, societies, institutions, editorial teams and individual clients on the publishing work that needs to be done well.

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