SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 1

SAGE Business Skills Author Guidelines

SAGE Business Skills (SBS) is a new digital resource to help students develop practical business and professional skills. With easy access

to a range of multimedia content, students can develop relevant, in-demand skills needed to confidently transition from the classroom to

the workplace. The platform’s modular design allows for easy student self-discovery through the library catalog as well as the ability for

faculty members to embed within their Learning Management Systems or syllabus for classroom use. At launch in Fall 2021, SBS will

consist of five modules:

1. Organizational Communication 2. Data Analytics 3. Leadership 4. Entrepreneurship

5. Professionalism

AUDIENCE & TONE

SBS is aimed at upper-level undergraduates who are looking to ready themselves for employment. When writing, keep in mind that SBS

is designed to be an engaging and enjoyable experience for students. There are no citation requirements, but we do encourage you to refer

to research that supports the direction you are providing in the content. It is a great opportunity to show real world application of your or

other relevant research. Here is an example:

Want to dig into this more and see the research behind the art and science of Business Communication? Check out this article: Communicating Organizational Trust: An

Exploration of the Link Between Discourse and Action. We love this quote: “Words in themselves do not communicate trust unless there is corresponding action that

attests to the veracity of the words.”

Below is a screenshot of how the content will be organized on the platform. See the SAGE Skills site: https://study.sagepub.com/skills for

a quick video tour to further orient yourself to an early prototype of our platform.

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 2

Within each of the five Modules there will be 10-12 Skills (such as Emotional Intelligence within the Professionalism Module or

Demystifying Excel within in the Data Analytics Module). Within each Skill there will be a minimum of 10 Topics. These Topics are the

real heart of the platform and where all the content is found. For ease of use on the platform these topics are clustered under an

Accordion Table of Contents (TOC), which is essentially a list of headings that organize the underlying Topics. This enables us to add

more topics as we grow and not force users to just keep scrolling down the page to find more content. These TOC headings help

condense the accordions (where the Topics are found) so users can open and close and keep things manageable on the screen.

Each Skill within a Module is taken on by an author or author team. Each Skill should aim to have the following content (see the Skills

Checklist below for more details):

3-5 Table of Contents Headings, with the first heading being “Overview.” The Skill author writes the skill overview. These

headings should be broad and general enough to encapsulate the Topics included within. Consult your SAGE Editor or Editor-in-

Chief (EIC) for assistance in writing these. While they are not discoverable on the platform via search, they will help the user

decide their route through the platform. Note that depending on which Module you are working on, the EIC and/or SAGE Editor

may have already drafted these headings.

Under each of these TOC headings, Skill authors should have anywhere from 2-8 Topics—but keep the overall Topic count in

mind when organizing. How these Topics titles are worded is important as they will be discoverable on the platform via the

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 3

language you use. Strive for succinct and informative headings (such as “Conveying Messages with Data Visualizations” under

the Data Visualizations Skill; or “Crowdfunding” under the Funding Your Business Skill within the Entrepreneurship module).

SKILLS CHECKLIST

Here is a checklist to use when creating each Topic within your Skill. Consult with your EIC and SAGE editor with any questions and

map out what content types and multimedia elements you will use in each Topic to build out your full Skill. That’ll make it easier when

you start drafting your content in the Skills Template.

CONTENT NAME DESCRIPTION When to Use/How Many What I Used

Skill TOC Written in collaboration by EIC, SAGE Editorial, and Skill

Authors. Lists out headings that capture the skill topic

content in that section. Enables content to be organized

into sections and limit the number of accordions displayed

on the screen at one time.

First item on each TOC is

“Overview.” One TOC per

Skill, with 3-5 headings.

Skill Overview Written by Skill Author. Approx. 500-800 word overview

that encapsulates the Skill. Brief anchor essay. Can include

Further Reading section.

One for each Skill.

Skill Self-

Assessment

Written by Skill Author. Overview quiz with 5 questions

that provides a quick look into what will be covered and

allows user to assess their existing strengths before

entering the Skill.

One for each Skill.

General Skills

Content

Written by Skill Author. Content that is in an accordion but

not scenarios. Primarily text but can also include video,

data, and/or images. Can also include links to company

info, company reports, material submitted by companies,

and repurposed content.

Aim for at least one per

TOC heading but really can

be unlimited throughout

your Topics.

Scenario Style 1:

Explore Your

Options

Written by Skill Authors. Explore all options to promote

critical thinking.

Contains: Brief scenario/job situation that has 3-6

sentences. Answer choices consist of four options

containing not more than two sentences each.

Aim for 1-3 per Accordion

TOC heading.

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 4

Feedback Popup: appears when choice is selected. Content

is no longer than 1 to 3 sentences. All have some pros and

cons, but it could have a best answer.

Functionality Multimedia: Scenario can include image,

data, or video in scenario itself and in the feedback. No

more than one type of multimedia content in each section.

Scenario Style 2:

Multiple Choice

Questions

Written by Skill Authors. A short quiz either at the end of a

section or as the main content in a section to allow the

user to check their understanding. If alone, must have

introductory text to lead into quiz.

Contains between 3 to 5 MCQ questions. These questions

must work stand alone and not be contingent on each

other. There should be between 3 and 5 answers. Each

answer choice should be supported by why it is wrong, as

well indicate what the correct answer is.

Functionality/ Multimedia: users will select their answers

and click submit. They will then be told the correct answer.

Scenario can include image, data, or video in scenario itself

and in the feedback. No more than one type of multimedia

content in each section.

Aim for 1-3 per Accordion

TOC heading.

Scenario Style 3:

One question at a

time

Written by Skill Authors. For students to focus on one

question at a time and work through that question until

they get it correct. User moves horizontally and they do

not scroll down through questions.

Contains: Three questions and three answer choices.

Feedback will tell the users why the user got the question

wrong and invite them to either: a) attempt to try the

question again or b) move on to the next question. The

user will only find the correct answer if they choose it.

Functionality/Multimedia: Questions and answers can

include images, video, data. Users can attempt the

question again and again. Users submit the answer to each

question individually and work to uncover the answer

before moving on.

Aim for 1-3 per TOC

heading.

Notes from the

Field

Written by Skill Authors, Outside Contributors (such as

companies, societies, etc. brought in by EIC and SAGE), and

by SAGE Editorial. First-person or company perspective on

Aim for at least one per

TOC heading but really can

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 5

a business situation. Can include images, video, data. Can

also include Review Questions to trigger classroom or other

discussion.

be unlimited throughout

your Topics.

Ask the Experts

(not standalone)

Written by Skill Authors and by SAGE Editorial. Boxed text

with a few sentences to one paragraph and toll-free links

to SJ content. Should not be standalone skill content but

come at the end of content to reinforce the Skill and back it

up with empirical evidence.

Aim for at least one per

TOC heading. Consult with

SAGE Editorial on specific

journals and amount to

use. Authors may also use

their own journal

publications if they receive

proper permissions from

publisher.

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS

Please ensure you add the following elements as relevant throughout the above content types (you will also have prompts in the Template

for guidance).

Content Type DESCRIPTION Notes/Amount What I Used

Brief Videos Brief video clips (either provided by author or created by

SAGE). Video can encompass actual live footage of

interviews, onsite business-in-action, brief SAGE-created

animations.

Each topic can include up to

TWO videos. Max of 5

custom videos per Skill. Can

also use author-created

video. All video requests

must be approved by SAGE

editor during Skill/Topic

development.

Photographs/Still

images

Still images (either provided by author with appropriate

permissions or by SAGE via Getty Images).

Unlimited with proper

citation.

Excel

Spreadsheets

Author-created Excel spreadsheets. These will be made

available via hyperlink on the platform.

Up to 10 per Topic

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 6

Data Planet

Embed

Embeds from Data Planet (consult your SAGE editor for

access to DP).

Each Topic can have up to 2

DP embeds.

THIRD-PARTY CONTENT & PERMISSIONS

If you would like to include your own or other figures or tables, please keep in mind permissions. If the figure or table is not your own

unpublished work and requires permission for re-use, you must include the source line specified by the copyright holder.

CAPTIONS & DESCRIPTIONS

Each figure and table should include a detailed caption for the benefit of the visually impaired using text-to-speech readers. For example:

See this SAGE site for further information on reuse of copyright material and what is considered Fair Use: https://us.sagepub.com/en-

us/nam/copyright-and-permissions

Because of the potential cost and time that might be required to secure permission to reuse copyrighted content, SAGE reserves the right

to make a final determination on whether it will appear in SAGE Business Skills. When you submit your work to SAGE we ask that you

flag any third-party content you have included for our further review.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTENT and OUR REVIEW PROCESS

SAGE has created a both an EIC template and a Skills Author Template. EICs will submit just one document that includes their module

overview as well as the module’s self-assessment. This is submitted at the end of the editing process once all the authors submit their

individual topics and they have been reviewed and approved. Once all the content is complete for your entire Skill, please email your

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 7

completed Word doc to your SAGE editor. Once your SAGE editor initially approves your content, they will send it along to the EIC for

review. If the feedback is substantive enough to require revision, SAGE will send you the queries. If it is only light edits, we will begin

the process of submitting it to production.

HOW TO CITE YOUR CONTRIBUTION

For citing your contribution on your CV:

APA: [Contributor surname], [Contributor initial], ([Year]). [Topic title]. In SAGE Business Skills. 2021. [DOI]

Harvard: [Contributor surname], [Contributor initial] [Year]. ‘[Topic title]’, In SAGE Business Skills, SAGE Publications Inc.,

viewed [date viewed], [DOI].

MLA: [Contributor surname], [Contributor first name]. “[Topic title].” SAGE Business Skills. SAGE Publications Inc., 2021.

SAGE Business Skills. Web. [date viewed].

Chicago: [Contributor surname], [Contributor first name]. “[Topic title].” In SAGE Business Skills. SAGE Publications Inc.,

2021. [DOI].

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 8

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Types of Video content

Animation Explainer – video containing 2D animations with 2 or 3 objectives only. The video can have some motion affects and

can contain voice over animation. Click here to view a sample video.

Whiteboard Explainer - Whiteboard animation is a process where a creative story and storyboard with pictures is drawn on a

whiteboard (or something that resembles a whiteboard) by artists who record themselves in the process of their artwork. The

artist's hand is shown drawing the animation. These videos feature a minimalistic design, a voice over narrator and require a script

to be created. Click here to view a sample video.

Infographics Video – This video is suited to displaying and explaining large numbers, financial data and facts and figures. This

approach creates of graphic objects then animate objects with transitions. The video has a voice over narrator and script to be

created. Click here to view a sample video.

Screencast Video – These videos feature a recording of a computer screen that often contains audio narration using screencast. The

videos also allow for annotations, e.g. circling, highlighting, arrows, zooms. The videos are created using a software (e.g.

Camtasia) with audio recording through the same software. These scripts can either contain unscripted or scripted narration. Click

here to view a sample video.

Interview video – these videos feature interviews with academics or on site filming in businesses, which can be enhanced with

animation, text and b-roll of stock images or footage. Click here to view a sample video.

Appendix B: Template for Excel Spreadsheets

If you wish to add a downloadable Excel spreadsheet to a topic, please download the sample file below and add your data, being sure to

follow the instructions in the excel document. Once you have created the Excel file, highlight in yellow the text you wish to be

hyperlinked to the file and insert the following afterwards “[Insert file: excel file name] in your topic template.

Sample Excel

workbook.xlsx

Example:

SAGE Publishing. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. 2020 9

Please download the data here [Insert file: spreadsheet 1] and create your own line graph.

Appendix C: Data Planet Embeds

Data Planet is a repository of statistical data that can be embedded into SAGE Business Skills either as a ‘live’ embed where the data will

update automatically with new data or as a ‘static’ embed where the data will remain the same. If you believe a topic would benefit from a

data embed reach out to your SAGE Editor or Diana Aleman (Diana.Aleman@sagepub.com) for access to Data Planet.

This embed allows you to create a data visualization using one or more data sets in Data Planet. Some data restrictions may apply, which

your SAGE Editor or Diana Aleman can advise on. Once you have found a data set(s) that you would like to embed in your topic, click

the “create link (DOI)” button at the bottom left side of the page (see image below) and paste the resulting DOI into your topic template.