Peer Review Process

Agency Journal of Management and Business (AJMB) implements a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, original, and scientifically valid research. Every manuscript submitted to the journal is independently reviewed by experts in the relevant field, in accordance with the ethical standards recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Initial Screening

Upon submission, all manuscripts undergo an initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board to evaluate:

  • The suitability of the manuscript with the journal’s focus and scope.

  • The originality, scientific quality, and adherence to the author guidelines.

  • The manuscript’s compliance with ethical standards and plagiarism policy (checked using similarity detection software).

Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements will be rejected at the preliminary stage or returned to the author for correction before peer review.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review

Manuscripts passing the initial screening are sent to at least two qualified and independent reviewers under a double-blind review system, meaning:

  • Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors.

  • Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.

This process ensures objectivity, confidentiality, and academic fairness in evaluating manuscripts.

3. Reviewer Selection

Reviewers are selected based on their:

  • Expertise and academic background related to the manuscript topic.

  • Research and publication track record.

  • Ethical standards and experience in peer review.

The journal maintains a diverse international reviewer database to ensure balanced evaluations and avoid potential conflicts of interest.

4. Review Criteria

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on the following aspects:

  • Originality and novelty of the research.

  • Clarity and logical coherence of the problem formulation.

  • Appropriateness of research methods and data analysis.

  • Relevance and accuracy of results and discussion.

  • Theoretical and practical contributions to management and business sciences.

  • Compliance with ethical and citation standards.

5. Editorial Decision

After the peer review process, reviewers provide detailed comments and recommendations. The Editor-in-Chief, together with the Editorial Board, makes the final decision based on reviewers’ feedback. The possible editorial decisions include:

  • Accept Submission (without revision)

  • Minor Revision Required

  • Major Revision Required

  • Reject Submission

Authors will receive the reviewers’ comments and are encouraged to revise their manuscripts in accordance with the feedback provided.

6. Revision and Re-Review

  • Authors are required to submit the revised version within the specified deadline.

  • Revised manuscripts may be re-evaluated by the same reviewers to ensure that necessary improvements have been made.

Failure to return revisions on time without notification may result in the manuscript being withdrawn from consideration.

7. Final Decision and Publication

After the reviewers and editors are satisfied with the revision, the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision regarding acceptance for publication.
Accepted manuscripts then proceed to copyediting, layout editing, and proofreading before publication in the scheduled issue.

8. Review Timeframe

The average duration of the peer review process is approximately 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the availability and responsiveness of reviewers.

9. Confidentiality and Ethics

  • All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents during the review process.

  • Information obtained during peer review is not shared or used for any purpose other than manuscript evaluation.

  • Reviewers and editors must declare any conflict of interest prior to reviewing a manuscript.

10. COPE Compliance

The Agency Journal of Management and Business follows the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers and applies COPE’s flowcharts in handling ethical issues throughout the peer review process.