Publishing Is No Longer an Option for serious researchers.

Academia has drastically changed over the last few years, no longer are academic success judged purely by qualifications or employment affiliations, today visibility, citations and impact of publication seem to be a strong measure of a researcher's success. This has led to publishing becoming part of a scholar's life. For any scholar, every single publication has a role to play in building the identity and reputation of the scholar. Articles, review papers, book chapters and conference proceedings establish the researcher as being an expert and contributor to debates. A high publication rate in reputable journals helps create opportunities for any researcher such as securing grants, international collaboration, presentations and becoming a respected expert within the field of study. An academic reputation often determines progression within institutions, promotion rates and even how they are viewed by an establishment. However an active publication record is not necessarily about a high number of papers; the focus of the articles published is also key. One of the mistakes often made by academics is to publish individual papers without developing a research profile or research area. Scholars who have consistently focused their contributions on similar subject matter usually gain more respect and a strong long term reputation. If a business innovation researcher consistently publishes papers about organizational entrepreneurship, digital innovation and strategic change management they establish themselves as a leader in business innovation and leadership. The more they concentrate on publishing within these themes the higher their reputation rises within their specific field. The quality of research papers has to be considered above quantity; a strong and influential paper can benefit an academic much more than a number of poor quality articles. Strong research is based on novelty, pertinence, validity of methodological approaches and clarity of language. Poorly written articles or papers that are hard to understand will not have the necessary impact. The choice of publication outlet also influences visibility and citations; publishing in internationally indexed journals increases accessibility for research and academic credibility. The quality of review procedures of the specific journals and editorial strength and audience relevance should be carefully examined. The use of fraudulent journals still represents a considerable risk for the reputation and academic credit of any individual. Consistency is also key for a researcher in the long term; high performing scholars continuously produce a pipeline of publications, reviews and presentations as well as projects that are ongoing or being developed. Influence grows with sustained contribution over a sustained period of time. Collaboration has become crucial within research publication; it not only boosts the quality of work and provides more perspective but can also create international and cross- disciplinary networking. Researchers now also have to be involved in making sure that their published work is visible. Platforms like Google Scholar, ResearchGate, LinkedIn, university repositories, and webinars are integral for raising the profile of individual scholars' work; much great research remains unrecognized because it is not promoted enough. Citation count remains one of the main metrics for academic success; they also form a basis for research funding, academic recognition, career promotion and an overall academic standing. The ethical implications of the publication process, such as the possibility of fraudulent research, self-plagiarism, multiple submissions, and false citations cannot be over-emphasized, as the repercussions to an academic's career are extremely high. The digital publication era is bringing constant changes and advancements through open access initiatives and even through AI technologies, and it is becoming increasingly important for all scholars to combine quality research with an effective presentation of the data and an extensive dissemination and impact strategy. It is no longer a luxury to have one's research published. It is one of the most essential aspects of modern academia and an absolute necessity for the serious academic researcher in building and sustaining an impact both scientifically and professionally.

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