Guide for Editors

This guide outlines the roles, responsibilities, and editorial procedures for editors of the Review of Supply Chain Management (RSCM). It is intended to ensure transparency, consistency, and the highest standards of academic integrity in the editorial and peer-review process.

1. Editorial Structure and Roles

1.1 Editor-in-Chief (EiC)

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for:

  • Defining the journal’s academic vision and strategic direction in supply chain and operations management
  • Ensuring editorial quality, ethical compliance, and publication integrity
  • Making final decisions on all submitted manuscripts
  • Appointing Associate Editors, Editorial Board members, and Guest Editors
  • Representing the journal in academic and professional communities

1.2 Associate Editors

Associate Editors support the EiC by:

  • Managing manuscripts within their areas of expertise (e.g., logistics, procurement, operations, analytics)
  • Selecting qualified peer reviewers
  • Evaluating reviewer reports and making editorial recommendations
  • Ensuring timely, fair, and rigorous peer-review processes

1.3 Editorial Board Members

Editorial Board members are expected to:

  • Advise on journal scope, policy, and strategic development
  • Support manuscript review when required
  • Promote the journal within academic and industry networks
  • Contribute to special issues and thematic initiatives

2. Editorial Independence and Integrity

Editors must:

  • Maintain full independence and objectivity in editorial decisions
  • Base decisions solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance
  • Avoid all conflicts of interest
  • Ensure strict confidentiality throughout the review and publication process

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

3. Manuscript Handling Workflow

Step 1: Initial Screening

Editors assess submissions for:

  • Alignment with RSCM scope (supply chain, logistics, operations, and related fields)
  • Originality, methodological rigor, and theoretical contribution
  • Ethical compliance and research integrity

Manuscripts not meeting minimum standards may be desk-rejected with justification.

Step 2: Reviewer Selection

Editors must:

  • Assign at least two independent and qualified reviewers
  • Ensure subject expertise matches manuscript content
  • Avoid conflicts of interest between authors and reviewers
  • Ensure diversity and balance in reviewer selection

Step 3: Peer Review Management

Editors are responsible for:

  • Monitoring review progress and ensuring timely completion
  • Ensuring reviewer comments are constructive and professional
  • Addressing ethical concerns raised during review
  • Requesting additional reviews when necessary

Step 4: Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer reports, editors may recommend:

  • Accept
  • Minor revision
  • Major revision
  • Reject

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision in complex or disputed cases.

4. Decision Communication

Editors must ensure that decision letters:

  • Clearly summarise reviewer feedback and editorial reasoning
  • Provide constructive and respectful guidance to authors
  • Maintain professional and neutral tone
  • Support authors even in rejection decisions

5. Ethical Oversight

Editors are responsible for identifying and addressing:

  • Plagiarism and self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation
  • Authorship disputes or misattribution
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

All ethical issues must be handled in accordance with COPE guidelines.

6. Handling Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves if:

  • There is prior collaboration with authors
  • Institutional, personal, or financial relationships exist
  • Any potential bias may influence decision-making

Such manuscripts must be reassigned to another editor.

7. Use of AI in Editorial Processes

Editors may use AI tools only for:

  • Language and grammar support
  • Administrative assistance (e.g., reviewer suggestions with verification)

Editors must ensure:

  • AI does not influence editorial decisions
  • Manuscript confidentiality is fully protected
  • No misuse or external exposure of unpublished content

8. Special Issues Management

  • Guest Editors must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief
  • Clear aims, scope, and timelines must be defined
  • All submissions undergo full double-blind peer review
  • Final decision authority remains with the Editor-in-Chief

9. Timeliness and Performance Standards

Editors are expected to:

  • Complete initial screening within 7–10 days
  • Ensure first review decisions within 4 weeks
  • Maintain timely communication with authors and reviewers
  • Inform the EiC promptly in case of delays

10. Post-Acceptance Responsibilities

Editors must:

  • Ensure manuscripts meet formatting and ethical standards
  • Coordinate with copyediting and production teams
  • Approve final proofs before publication
  • Verify metadata accuracy and DOI assignment

11. Retractions, Corrections, and Appeals

Editors must:

  • Recommend corrections, errata, or retractions when necessary
  • Handle appeals fairly and transparently
  • Maintain full documentation of editorial decisions

12. Editorial Meetings and Review

The editorial team should:

  • Conduct annual reviews of journal performance
  • Evaluate reviewer quality and turnaround efficiency
  • Update editorial policies when required
  • Plan thematic issues and strategic developments

13. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Editors must:

  • Treat all manuscripts as strictly confidential
  • Not use unpublished material for personal benefit
  • Comply with data protection and privacy requirements

14. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Editors are expected to:

  • Promote diversity in authorship, reviewers, and editorial boards
  • Encourage participation from diverse regions and institutions
  • Ensure fair and unbiased editorial treatment of all submissions

15. Compliance and Accountability

Editors must:

  • Uphold the mission and integrity of RSCM
  • Follow all editorial policies consistently
  • Support journal visibility, indexing, and quality enhancement

Non-compliance may result in reassignment or removal from editorial responsibilities.