PEER REVIEW PROCESS

The International Journal of Economics, Management, Business, and Accounting (IJECOMBA) employs a rigorous and transparent peer-review system to ensure the publication of high-quality, original research. Our process involves the author(s), the Editorial Team, Section Editors, and expert reviewers.

The standard workflow is as follows:

1. Initial Editorial Check
Upon submission, every manuscript undergoes an initial screening by the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned Editorial Team member. This check assesses the manuscript's suitability based on:

  • Adherence to the journal's Focus and Scope.

  • Compliance with basic formatting and submission guidelines.

  • Originality and ethical standards (screened via plagiarism detection software).

Manuscripts that fail to meet these preliminary criteria are desk-rejected and returned to the author at this stage.

2. Peer Review Phase
Manuscripts that pass the initial check proceed to a Double-Blind Peer Review. In this model, the identities of both the authors and the reviewers are concealed from each other to ensure impartiality and objectivity.

  • A minimum of two independent reviewers are assigned to evaluate the manuscript.

  • Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in the manuscript's specific subject area.

  • The review period is typically 1-2 weeks, though this may vary depending on manuscript length and complexity.

Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on the journal's Article Assessment Form, which includes criteria such as originality, significance, methodology, clarity of presentation, and reference accuracy.

3. Final Decision & Publication

  • The Editor-in-Chief considers the reviewers' reports and makes the final decision (Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject).

  • Authors are notified of the decision and provided with the reviewers' anonymized comments for guidance in any revision.

  • Revised manuscripts may be sent back to the original reviewers for re-evaluation.

  • Upon final acceptance, the manuscript enters the copyediting and production stage.

The entire process, from submission to publication, averages approximately 8 weeks. This timeline is an estimate and can vary depending on the responsiveness of authors and reviewers, as well as the extent of revisions required.

Our structured and confidential peer-review process is designed to provide constructive feedback to authors while upholding the academic integrity and quality of IJECOMBA.