Peer Review Process

Journal of Finance Integration and Business Independence (JoFIBI) implements a rigorous and structured peer review system to ensure the quality, credibility, and academic value of the articles it publishes. The process is designed to maintain fairness, transparency, and academic rigor.

1. Manuscript Submission

  • Authors submit their manuscripts through the JoFIBI online submission system.
  • Manuscripts must comply with the journal’s author guidelines in terms of formatting, citation style, ethical practices, and scope of the journal.
  • Each submission is acknowledged, and authors receive confirmation via email.

2. Editorial Pre-Screening

  • The Editor-in-Chief (or an assigned Section Editor) performs an initial screening to determine if the manuscript:
    • Aligns with the aims and scope of JoFIBI.
    • Meets basic quality standards for grammar, structure, and originality.
    • Complies with ethical research and publication practices.
      • Manuscripts failing to meet the basic criteria may be desk-rejected, and authors will receive a notification along with brief feedback.

3. Reviewer Assignment

  • Manuscripts passing the pre-screening are sent for double-blind peer review. Double-Blind Review: Authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other to ensure objectivity and fairness.
    • At least two reviewers are assigned based on their subject-matter expertise, experience, and ability to provide constructive feedback.
    • Reviewers are selected carefully to avoid any conflict of interest.
      • Reviewers receive the manuscript and specific evaluation guidelines.

4. Reviewer Evaluation and Feedback

  • Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on specific assessment criteria, including:
    • Relevance: Alignment with the journal’s themes and objectives.
    • Originality: Novelty and significance of the research.
    • Methodological Rigor: Appropriateness of research design, data collection, and analysis.
    • Clarity: Organization, coherence, and readability of the manuscript.
    • Scholarly Contribution: Impact of findings on the field of finance and business.
      Reviewers are asked to:
      • Provide constructive, detailed comments on areas of strength and improvement.</li
      • Recommend one of the following decisions:
        • Accept
        • Minor Revisions
        • Major Revisions
        • Reject: Reviewers submit their feedback via the journal’s online system within the specified deadline.

    5. Editorial Decision

    • The Editor-in-Chief evaluates reviewer comments and makes one of the following decisions:
      • Accept: Manuscript is accepted with minor or no revisions.
      • Minor Revisions: Authors address small, specific reviewer comments.
      • Major Revisions: Substantial changes are required. Authors are given clear guidance to resubmit a revised version.
      • Reject: Manuscript is unsuitable for publication.
        • The Editor compiles reviewer feedback and shares it with the authors.

    6. Author Revision Process

    • Authors are required to revise their manuscript based on reviewer comments.
    • A detailed response letter addressing each reviewer comment must accompany the revised manuscript.
    • Authors must highlight changes made in the revised document (e.g., using track changes).
      • The revised manuscript is submitted within a set timeframe (e.g., 4-6 weeks).

    7. Re-Review (If Applicable)

    • Manuscripts requiring major revisions may undergo a second round of review.
    • The original reviewers are typically re-invited to evaluate the revised manuscript.
    • Reviewers assess whether the authors adequately addressed their comments.
      • If reviewers are satisfied, the Editor may proceed with acceptance.

    8. Final Decision

    • The Editor-in-Chief makes a final decision based on:
      • Reviewer recommendations.
      • Author revisions.
        • If accepted, the manuscript proceeds to the production stage.

    9. Copyediting and Proofreading

    • Accepted manuscripts undergo professional copyediting to refine grammar, structure, and clarity.
    • Authors review the final proofs for any errors before the article is finalized for publication.

    10. Publication

    • The final version of the manuscript is published online in the Journal of Finance Integration and Business Independence (JoFIBI).
    • Authors receive a notification, along with links to their published article.
      • Articles are made available with open or restricted access as per journal policies.

    11. Post-Publication Engagement

    • Authors are encouraged to share and promote their work to increase its impact.
    • The journal supports engagement through indexing, promotion on platforms, and encouraging scholarly discussions.

    Commitment to Quality

    JoFIBI peer review process is guided by the following principles:

  • Objectivity and Fairness: Ensuring unbiased evaluation through double-blind review.
  • Confidentiality: Maintaining the privacy of authors and reviewers.
  • Timeliness: Adhering to clear timelines for review and decision-making
  • Ethics and Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing.

    This rigorous peer review process ensures that all articles published in the Journal of Finance Integration and Business Independence meet the highest standards of academic excellence, relevance, and originality.