Guide for Editors

This guide outlines the roles, responsibilities, and procedures for editors of Sustainable Business Research (SBR). It is designed to ensure consistency, transparency, and academic integrity throughout the editorial and peer-review process.

1. Editorial Structure and Roles

1.1 Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) is responsible for:

  • Setting the journal’s academic direction and standards

  • Overseeing editorial policy and ethical compliance

  • Making final decisions on manuscripts

  • Appointing Associate Editors and Editorial Board members

  • Representing the journal to indexing bodies and publishers

1.2 Associate Editors

Associate Editors support the EiC by:

  • Managing submissions within their expertise

  • Selecting and communicating with reviewers

  • Making recommendations based on peer-review reports

  • Ensuring timely and fair review processes

1.3 Editorial Board Members

Editorial Board members are expected to:

  • Advise on journal scope and policy

  • Review manuscripts when requested

  • Promote the journal within academic networks

  • Support special issues where appropriate

2. Editorial Independence and Integrity

Editors must:

  • Act independently and impartially

  • Avoid conflicts of interest

  • Make decisions based solely on academic merit

  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by commercial, institutional, or personal interests.

3. Manuscript Handling Workflow (OJS)

Step 1: Initial Screening

Editors assess submissions for:

  • Fit with journal scope

  • Originality and relevance

  • Ethical compliance

  • Basic methodological soundness

Manuscripts failing these criteria may be desk-rejected with clear reasons.

Step 2: Reviewer Selection

Editors should:

  • Select at least two independent reviewers

  • Ensure reviewers have appropriate subject expertise

  • Avoid institutional or personal conflicts of interest

  • Maintain diversity in reviewer selection

Step 3: Peer Review Management

Editors must:

  • Monitor review timelines

  • Send reminders when necessary

  • Ensure reviewer comments are constructive and professional

  • Address any ethical concerns raised by reviewers

Step 4: Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer reports, editors may recommend:

  • Accept

  • Minor revision

  • Major revision

  • Reject

The EiC makes the final decision in contested or complex cases.

4. Decision Communication

Editors should:

  • Provide clear, reasoned decision letters

  • Summarise key reviewer comments

  • Avoid personal or dismissive language

  • Encourage improvement even in rejection

5. Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for identifying and addressing:

  • Plagiarism or self-plagiarism

  • Data fabrication or falsification

  • Authorship disputes

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

All ethical cases must be handled in accordance with COPE flowcharts.

6. Handling Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where:

  • They have collaborated with the authors

  • There is a personal or institutional relationship

  • Financial or professional interests exist

Such manuscripts should be reassigned to another editor.

7. Use of AI in Editorial Processes

Editors may use AI tools for:

  • Language screening

  • Reviewer suggestions (with human verification)

Editors must ensure:

  • AI is not used to make editorial decisions

  • AI-generated content is not introduced into manuscripts

  • AI use does not compromise confidentiality

8. Special Issues Management

For special issues:

  • Guest Editors must be approved by the EiC

  • Clear aims and timelines must be defined

  • All submissions undergo the same peer-review standards

  • The EiC retains final decision authority

9. Timeliness and Performance Standards

Editors are expected to:

  • Complete initial screening within 7–10 days

  • Ensure first review decisions within 4 weeks

  • Maintain clear communication with authors and reviewers

Delays should be communicated transparently.

10. Post-Acceptance Responsibilities

Editors must:

  • Ensure manuscripts meet formatting and ethical standards

  • Coordinate with copyeditors

  • Approve final proofs before publication

  • Confirm correct metadata and author information

11. Retractions, Corrections, and Appeals

Editors must:

  • Recommend corrections or retractions where necessary

  • Handle appeals fairly and transparently

  • Document decisions and communications

12. Editorial Meetings and Review

The editorial team should:

  • Review journal performance annually

  • Assess reviewer quality and turnaround times

  • Update policies as needed

  • Plan future issues and special themes

13. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Editors must:

  • Treat all submissions as confidential

  • Not use unpublished material for personal research

  • Comply with data protection and privacy policies

14. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Editors should promote:

  • Geographic and institutional diversity

  • Gender balance

  • Inclusion of early-career researchers

  • Fair treatment of all submissions

15. Compliance and Accountability

Editors are expected to:

  • Uphold the journal’s mission and ethical standards

  • Follow this guide and journal policies

  • Support indexing and quality assurance processes

Failure to comply may result in reassignment or removal from editorial roles.