gec-workflow

GEC Workflow Router (gec-workflow)

The orchestrator for a Global Environmental Change submission. Figure out the stage and the format,

then send the user to the matching skill. GEC publishes work on the human and policy dimensions of

global environmental change — so the router's first job is to confirm the paper has a **significant

social-science component** and a real-world / policy payoff, not just an environmental result.

When to trigger

• Starting a new GEC paper and unsure where to begin
• Mid-project and unsure which skill applies next
• Deciding whether the work fits a full Research Article or a shorter format
• Returning with a decision letter (route to gec-revision-and-rebuttal)

First question: which format?

| Situation | Format | Route to |

|-----------|--------|----------|

| Full original study, broad significance | Research Article (up to 8,000 words) | normal pipeline below |

| Distinctive viewpoint / agenda-setting argument | Perspective (up to 3,000 words) | gec-conceptual-framework + gec-writing-style |

| Integrative synthesis needing methods/data analysis | Usually Research Article | gec-literature-positioning + gec-conceptual-framework |

| Prospective design, data not yet collected | plan transparency early | gec-research-design + gec-review-process |

> The 8,000-word and 3,000-word caps were refreshed from the official Guide on 2026-06-20. Re-check the

> live Guide before filing, especially for special issue instructions.

Routing map (stage → skill)

Idea / fit?                        → gec-topic-selection
Where does it sit in the field?    → gec-literature-positioning
What is the framework?             → gec-conceptual-framework
Is the design defensible?          → gec-research-design
Are the analyses sound?            → gec-data-analysis
Are the exhibits clear?            → gec-figures-and-tables
Does it read for a broad audience? → gec-writing-style
So what for policy / practice?     → gec-policy-relevance-and-implications
How will it be judged?             → gec-review-process
Ready to submit?                   → gec-submission
Got an R&R / decision?             → gec-revision-and-rebuttal

Default order

`topic-selection → literature-positioning → conceptual-framework → research-design → data-analysis →

figures-and-tables → writing-style → policy-relevance-and-implications → review-process → submission →

revision-and-rebuttal`

Iterate: most papers loop framework ↔ design ↔ analysis several times before writing-style.

Anti-patterns

• Treating GEC as a natural-science venue — the human / policy dimension must lead
• Skipping the conceptual framework and presenting results with no organizing lens
• Forcing one method template onto every paper (GEC welcomes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed work)
• Leaving policy relevance as an afterthought rather than a designed-in contribution

Output format

【Stage】idea / positioning / framework / design / analysis / exhibits / writing / policy / review / submit / revise
【Format】Research Article / Perspective / Review / other
【Route to】gec-<skill>
【Why】one line
【Then】the next skill after that

Supplementary resources

• [../../resources/external_tools.md](../../resources/external_tools.md) — data sources + software by method
• [../../resources/official-source-map.md](../../resources/official-source-map.md) — official GEC URLs behind every fact in this pack