Call for papers – Thematic Issue: "Stakeholder Roles in Product and Service Management"

2025-06-23

Consulting stakeholders is of fundamental importance in the field of product and service management, as stakeholders (such as customers, users, investors, executives, or employees representing various professional domains) have different expectations, goals, and interests that should be considered throughout design and implementation processes. If management fails to identify and integrate these diverse needs in a timely manner and does not involve stakeholders in decision-making, it can lead to serious risks: the product or service may not meet user expectations or may not align with business requirements. Comprehensive stakeholder engagement enables management to better understand market needs, identify potential problems, and anticipate future challenges that could affect the project. In addition, continuous communication with stakeholders contributes to project success. Thus, effective stakeholder management is not only a risk mitigation tool but also a strategic advantage, as it ensures that products and services are built on real needs and provide competitive, market-relevant solutions. 

The aim of this thematic issue is to publish Hungarian-language studies that present theoretical or practical approaches to the methods, challenges, and opportunities of involving stakeholders in product and service development. The issue primarily welcomes empirical research papers that contribute to the academic discourse on stakeholder management by scientifically exploring industrial and business practices. 

This call for papers welcomes contributions that include, but are not limited to, the following themes: 

  • The importance of stakeholder management in product and service development 
  • Communication strategies and conflict management with stakeholders 
  • Stakeholder involvement in product and service design (e.g., through co-creation, co-design, or design thinking approaches) 
  • User-centred product design (including projects relevant to product experience (PX) and user experience (UX)) 
  • Participatory service design 
  • Identifying specific user needs and designing assistive products 

Guest Editor: Dr. Bálint Szabó (Department of Ergonomics and Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics) 
Guest Co-Editor: Dr. Sarolta Tóvölgyi (Department of Ergonomics and Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics) 

Full paper submission deadline: November 28, 2025
Expected publication: Second half of 2026 

Submissions should be uploaded to the journal’s manuscript management system by the deadline. Please submit your manuscript under the dedicated section of the thematic issue (Thematic Issue: Stakeholder). Author guidelines are available on the journal's website. For more information, please visit: www.vezetestudomany.hu. 

For professional inquiries, please contact the Guest Editor (szabo.balint@gtk.bme.hu). For technical questions, contact the editorial office of Vezetéstudomány – Budapest Management Review (titkarsag.veztud@uni-corvinus.hu).