JCISE has two tracks: research and applications. There are several categories of articles in each track. The contents of each issue of JCISE may contain contributions within any or all of the categories. These categories are listed below:

RESEARCH PAPERS: A regular Research Paper is intended to report basic and original results in any of the experimental and theoretical branches of the field of Computing and Information Science applied to product development or any of its sub-fields of current interest Articles in this category should have archival value and show a significant advance in areas of interest to the CISE community. Articles in this category form the bulk of the contents of the research track of JCISE. Research papers are typically 9-12 transaction pages.

TECHNICAL NOTES: A Technical Note is intended to report results that are significant and archival from an engineering point of view but are more limited in scope and therefore not suitable for a full-length original paper. A Technical Note may contain any of the following:

1. a minor result similar to a regular research paper.
2. a preliminary report of a result that is not yet fully developed or interpreted.
3. a commentary on a technical issue of potential interest to readers, such as data
    exchange standards.

Technical Notes may be either part of research track (type 1 above) or application track (type 2, 3). Tech notes are typically 2-3 pages.

APPLICATION BRIEFS: These represent innovations in software or data technology that have electro-mechanical design or simulation implications. The archival value of such publications is the innovation part of the system design and not necessarily in the theory. Industry pilot projects or prototype implementation would also be appropriate for such briefs. Application briefs are always application track. Application Briefs are typically 5 pages.

SOFTWARE REVIEWS: Software Reviews are critical technical evaluations of commercial software or freeware. They are prepared by independent experts not affiliated with the software vendors or their competitors. These articles are commissioned by the Technical Editor, either at his/her own initiative or at the request of the vendor. Software reviews are always part of the application track. Software Reviews are typically 1-2 pages.

TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS: These contain surveys and insights about specific technology areas. These articles are part of the application track. Technology Reviews are typically 5 pages.

BOOK REVIEWS: Book reviews briefly describe recently published books that may be favorably recommended to readers of the Journal, and books received from publishers by the Technical Editor for review should be listed in the next available issue. Only those books dealing with subject matter within the scope of JCISE are included in the List of Books Received. Publication of book reviews are subject to the discretion of the Technical Editor and can depend on demand on the page allocation of the Journal. Book Reviews are 1/2-1 pages.

DISCUSSIONS & CLOSURES: Discussions of published papers and authors' closures are published subject to general Society policies. They are usually published in a later issue than the original paper. Such publications should be coordinated through the editorial activities of the Technical Editor. They pertain to full length papers only and are hence part of the research track.

EDITORIALS: Editorials are only to be written by the Technical Editor, or invited Guest Editors for special issues, upon the discretion of the Technical Editor to make important announcements related to Journal activities. Technical Editors refrain from writing extensive editorials and limit publication of the editorial to necessary and important announcements about the Journal's activities.