Editorial Policies

With a focus on business integration, strategy, and competitive practices, Journal of Business Integration Competitiveness (JoBIC) dedicates itself to publishing original, high-quality research articles in business studies. To maintain academic integrity, fairness, and the quality of published research, the journal has established the following detailed editorial policies, which encompass submission requirements, peer review processes, editorial responsibilities, and ethical standards.

1. Manuscript Submission Policy

1.1 Scope and Suitability

  • JoBIC accepts manuscripts in the following formats: original research articles, review articles, theoretical papers, case studies, and book reviews. Submissions should align with the journal's scope and focus on topics relevant to business integration and competitiveness.
  • The journal encourages submissions that offer new insights, propose innovative methodologies, or contribute to the theoretical and practical understanding of the field.

1.2 Submission Guidelines

  • JoBIC submission system requires online submission of manuscripts. Detailed instructions on how to submit a manuscript, including template usage and file formatting, are available on the journal's website.
  • The text must be double-spaced and formatted according to the JoBIC style guide, with all figures and tables placed at the end of the manuscript.

1.3 Language and Style

  • All authors must write their manuscripts in clear, concise English. We strongly encourage authors whose first language is not English to have their manuscripts professionally edited.
  • Abbreviations and technical terms should be defined at their first mention, and authors must use terminology consistently.

1.4 Supplementary Materials

  • To improve the readers' understanding of the research, authors may submit supplementary files, such as data sets, audio-visual materials, or additional figures.

2. The peer review process

2.1 Initial Assessment

  • The editorial team initially evaluates each manuscript upon submission to make sure it complies with the journal's submission guidelines and is relevant to the field. The editorial team may desk-reject manuscripts that fail this initial assessment.
  • An associate editor receives manuscripts that pass the initial assessment for peer review.

2.2 Double-Blind Peer Review

  • JoBIC employs a double-blind review system to ensure impartiality. Reviewers do not know the identities of the authors, and vice versa.
  • Each manuscript typically receives the attention of two to three reviewers. The peer review process evaluates the originality, scientific rigor, significance, and clarity of the research.

2.3 Review Timeline and Process

  • We expect reviewers to complete their evaluations within 4–6 weeks. Reviewers should promptly inform the editor if they require additional time.
  • The review process may include several rounds of revisions to ensure the manuscript meets the high standards of JoBIC.

2.4 Reviewer Guidelines

  • We provide reviewers with specific guidelines to assess the manuscript's structure, methodology, contribution to the field, ethical considerations, and writing quality.
  • We expect constructive criticism and encourage reviewers to provide detailed and actionable feedback.

3. Editorial decision-making

3.1 Decision Outcomes

  • Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the associate editor decides in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief. Possible decisions include:
    • Accept: The manuscript is ready for publication with minor or no revisions.
    • Minor Revisions: Authors are required to make small changes to improve clarity or content.
    • Major Revisions: Substantial modifications are needed. The revised manuscript will undergo a second round of review.
    • Reject: The manuscript does not meet the journal's standards and will not be considered for publication.

3.2 Author Notification and Feedback

  • Authors receive detailed feedback, including anonymized comments from reviewers and the editorial team’s decision. If revisions are necessary, the editorial team provides a comprehensive guide on how to address the reviewers' comments.

3.3 Appeals and Reconsideration

  • Authors who disagree with the editorial decision may appeal by submitting a detailed response to the editor. Appeals must present evidence or arguments to counter the reviewers’ and editors' comments. The editorial team will review the appeal and make a final decision.

4. Editorial responsibilities

4.1 Editor-in-Chief Duties

  • The Editor-in-Chief oversees the entire editorial process, ensuring the quality and integrity of published content. Responsibilities include making final publication decisions, addressing ethical concerns, and maintaining the journal’s strategic vision.
  • The Editor-in-Chief oversees the regular updating and adherence to the editorial policies.

4.2 Associate Editors and Editorial Board

  • Associate editors manage manuscripts assigned to them, coordinate the peer review process, and make recommendations to the Editor in Chief.
  • The Editorial Board, composed of experts in various fields of business studies, advises on editorial policies, contributes to special issues, and assists in promoting the journal.

4.3 Confidentiality

  • Editors and editorial staff must maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts, only sharing information with authors, reviewers, or the publisher as necessary.

4.4 Conflicts of Interest

  • In manuscripts where editors have competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with authors, they must recuse themselves.

5. Ethical and Integrity Standards

5.1 Ethical Research Conduct

  • All research involving human participants must have received approval from an appropriate ethics committee and adhere to ethical guidelines. The manuscript must explicitly state that the authors obtained ethical approval.
  • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial or non-financial, that may influence their work.

5.2 Plagiarism and Misconduct

  • JoBIC uses plagiarism detection software, i.e Turnitin to check for originality. We will reject manuscripts containing plagiarized content and may take further action, including notifying the authors' institutions.   
  • We will thoroughly investigate any form of research misconduct, including data fabrication or manipulation. We will ban authors guilty of misconduct from future submissions.

5.3 Data Sharing and Reproducibility

  • JoBIC promotes transparency and encourages authors to share their data whenever possible. Include data sharing statements and reference data repositories.
  • Authors must ensure that their results are reproducible and data sources are reliable.

6. Post-Publication Policies

6.1 Corrections and Retractions

  • The authors must notify the editorial office if they find errors in a published article. The editorial office will transparently make corrections, and significant errors may lead to a retraction.
  • Major ethical or research integrity violations result in the issuance of retractions. Retraction notices will include the reasons and details of the misconduct.

6.2 Article Promotion and Accessibility

  • JoBIC actively promotes published articles through various platforms, including academic networks and social media, to enhance the visibility and impact of the research.
  • The research community and the public have free and unrestricted access to all articles published under an open-access model.

6.3 Archiving and Digital Preservation

  • The journal uses reliable digital archiving systems to preserve published content permanently. In the event of a journal discontinuation, all content will remain accessible in digital archives.

7. Special Issues and Conference Proceedings

7.1 Call for Special Issues

  • The journal invites proposals for special issues on current or emerging topics in business studies. Proposals should outline the theme, relevance, potential contributors, and a timeline.
  • Special issue editors are responsible for managing the peer review process and ensuring the quality of submissions.

7.2 Conference Partnerships

  • JoBIC collaborates with academic conferences and may publish selected high-quality papers presented at these events. Conference proceedings are subject to the same rigorous peer review process as regular submissions.

8. Transparency and accountability

8.1 Publishing Schedule

  • JoBIC publishes quarterly and makes all of its issues available online with precise publication dates.
  • Authors can track the progress of their manuscripts through the journal’s submission system.

8.2 Annual Reporting

  • The journal publishes an annual report summarizing publication metrics, such as acceptance rates, average review times, and the impact of published articles.

By adhering to these comprehensive editorial policies, JoBIC aims to ensure the publication of impactful research while fostering a transparent, ethical, and high-quality academic publishing environment.