Some Thoughts On Peer Review In The Global Internet Context

Thoughtful review and comments from interested and knowledgeable persons are more relevant than ever to motivating original thought, disciplined research and progress. This paper argues that conflicts of interest, fragmentation and an emphasis of prestige and exclusivity over knowledge transfer, are driving the traditional journal publication model to well-earned irrelevance and extinction. The paper summarizes issues encountered by the author in aerospace engineering, strategic affairs and community relations, along with evolving trends in capturing knowledge. The implications of internet based peer review are considered in suggesting a model for peer review and cross-disciplinary innovation, with some preliminary empirical observations on needed refinements.