Peer Review Process

The Pacific Journal of Business Innovation and Strategy (PJBIS) adheres to a meticulous and transparent peer-review process designed to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, quality, and scholarly excellence. This rigorous evaluation system ensures that only the most impactful and credible research is disseminated to the global business and strategic management community. The peer-review process at PJBIS is structured into the following comprehensive stages:

 

Submission and Initial Evaluation

 

Manuscript Submission: Authors are required to submit their manuscripts through the PJBIS online submission portal. Each submission must include a cover letter that highlights the significance of the research, its originality, and its relevance to the journal's focus and scope. Additionally, authors must ensure that their manuscripts adhere to the journal’s formatting guidelines and ethical standards.

 

Initial Screening: Upon receipt, the editorial office conducts an initial screening to verify that the manuscript meets PJBIS’s basic requirements. This includes checking for compliance with formatting guidelines, assessing the originality of the content using plagiarism detection software, and ensuring the manuscript aligns with the journal’s scope. Manuscripts failing to meet these preliminary criteria may be rejected outright at this stage, with authors being notified accordingly.

 

Assignment to an Editor

Editor-in-Chief Assignment: Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to the Editor-in-Chief or a designated Senior Editor who possesses expertise in the manuscript’s subject area. The Editor-in-Chief/Senior Editor conducts a preliminary evaluation to assess the manuscript’s novelty, significance, and alignment with PJBIS’s objectives.

 

Selection of Handling Editor: If deemed suitable for further review, the manuscript is delegated to a Handling Editor with specialized knowledge in the relevant field. The Handling Editor oversees the peer-review process, ensuring that the manuscript is evaluated thoroughly and fairly.

 

Peer Reviewer Selection

Reviewer Identification: The Handling Editor identifies potential peer reviewers based on their expertise, publication history, and familiarity with the manuscript’s topic. Reviewers are selected from PJBIS’s extensive database of qualified experts or through professional networks. Typically, two to three reviewers are invited to evaluate each manuscript to ensure a balanced and comprehensive assessment.

 

Invitation to Review: Invited reviewers receive an email invitation containing the manuscript’s title, abstract, and relevant instructions. They are asked to confirm their availability and disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting the invitation. Prompt responses are encouraged to maintain the efficiency of the review process.

 

Conflict of Interest Check: Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest that may compromise their impartiality in evaluating the manuscript. If a conflict is identified, the reviewer is expected to decline the invitation, allowing the Handling Editor to select an alternative reviewer to maintain the integrity of the review process.

 

Double-Blind Review

Anonymity: PJBIS employs a double-blind review process, ensuring that both the reviewers and the authors remain anonymous to each other. This approach eliminates potential biases and ensures that the evaluation is based solely on the manuscript’s content and quality.

 

Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers assess the manuscript based on the following critical criteria:

• Originality and Novelty: Does the research contribute new knowledge or insights to the field of business innovation and strategic management?
• Methodological Rigor: Are the research methods sound, appropriate, and well-executed?
• Data and Results: Are the data presented accurately, and do the results support the conclusions drawn?
• Relevance and Impact: Is the research significant within the context of the field, particularly in addressing contemporary business challenges?
• Clarity and Structure: Is the manuscript well-organized, clearly written, and free from significant errors?

 

Reviewer's Report: Reviewers provide a detailed report, including specific comments and suggestions for improvement. They highlight the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and recommend whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected. Constructive feedback is encouraged to aid authors in enhancing the quality of their work.

 

Editorial Decision

Handling Editor's Assessment: Upon receiving the reviewers’ reports, the Handling Editor synthesizes the feedback and formulates a recommendation. If the initial reviews are inconclusive or conflicting, additional reviews may be requested to ensure a fair and balanced decision.

 

Decision Categories:

• Accept: The manuscript is accepted for publication without the need for further revisions.
• Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor adjustments or clarifications. Authors are asked to address the reviewers’ comments and resubmit the revised manuscript.
• Major Revisions: Significant changes are necessary. Authors receive detailed feedback and must make substantial revisions before resubmission. The revised manuscript may undergo another round of review.
• Reject: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in PJBIS due to significant flaws in the research or misalignment with the journal’s scope.

 

Final Decision: The Handling Editor’s recommendation, along with the reviewers’ reports, is forwarded to the Editor-in-Chief, who makes the final publication decision. Authors are notified of the decision, accompanied by the reviewers’ comments and any required revisions.

 

Revision and Resubmission

Author Revisions: If revisions are required, authors are given a specific timeframe to address the reviewers’ comments and resubmit the manuscript. A detailed response letter outlining how each comment was addressed must accompany the revised manuscript, demonstrating the authors’ efforts to enhance the manuscript’s quality.

 

Re-Review (if applicable): For manuscripts requiring significant revisions, the revised version may be sent back to the original reviewers for a second evaluation. This ensures that all concerns have been adequately addressed and that the manuscript meets PJBIS’s high standards for publication.

 

Final Acceptance and Publication

Final Check: Once a manuscript is accepted, the editorial office conducts a final review to ensure that all revisions have been incorporated and that the manuscript adheres to the journal’s formatting and ethical standards.

Proofing: Authors receive proofs of their accepted manuscript for final approval. This stage allows authors to make minor corrections before the manuscript is officially published.

Online Publication: Accepted manuscripts are published online in the subsequent available issue of PJBIS. Articles are immediately accessible under the journal’s open-access policy and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license, facilitating widespread dissemination and impact.

 

Post-Publication

Post-Publication Review: PJBIS encourages ongoing scholarly discussion and feedback on published articles. If substantial new information or concerns arise after publication, the editorial team may consider issuing corrections, retractions, or updates to maintain the integrity of the published research.

 

Author and Reviewer Recognition: PJBIS acknowledges the invaluable contributions of both authors and reviewers in advancing business innovation and strategic management. Reviewers who provide high-quality, timely reviews may be recognized through acknowledgments in the journal or invited to join the editorial board or serve as guest editors, fostering a community dedicated to scholarly excellence.