Guest Editor Guidelines
IJMES · Editorial
Guest Editor Guidelines
International Journal of Management and Economic Studies (IJMES)
Guest Editors play a key role in the editorial and peer-review process at the International Journal of Management and Economic Studies (IJMES). In taking on this role, Guest Editors are expected to act with independence, fairness, confidentiality, and academic integrity at every stage of manuscript handling.
Editorial Independence and Impartiality
Every editorial decision should rest on the manuscript's academic merit — its originality, relevance, and methodological rigor. Personal, professional, financial, or institutional interests should never factor into that judgment.
If a Guest Editor has a conflict of interest with a manuscript, they must disclose it and step back from handling that submission where appropriate.
Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest can arise from any relationship — personal, professional, financial, academic, or institutional — that might reasonably influence editorial judgment. Common examples include:
A recent or ongoing collaboration with one of the authors
A close personal or professional relationship with an author
A direct supervisory or institutional connection
An unresolved academic or professional dispute
A financial or commercial stake in the manuscript's subject matter
When a conflict is identified, IJMES will reassign the manuscript to another qualified, independent editor.
Confidentiality
Everything encountered during the editorial process — manuscripts, reviewer reports, correspondence — is confidential. Guest Editors must not share this information with unauthorized parties or use it for personal, professional, financial, or competitive gain.
The Peer-Review Process
IJMES uses a structured double-blind peer-review process, with each manuscript typically evaluated by two or more independent reviewers with relevant expertise. Guest Editors are responsible for selecting appropriately qualified reviewers and ensuring the process runs fairly and confidentially, free from undue influence.
What Reviewers Assess
Manuscripts are evaluated, where applicable, on:
Originality and contribution to the field
Methodology and research design
Validity of data, analysis, and conclusions
Clarity and organization
Quality and relevance of cited references
Ethical compliance
Editorial Decisions
Based on reviewer feedback and the Guest Editor's overall assessment, a manuscript may receive one of the following recommendations:
Accept
Minor Revisions
Major Revisions
Reject
Authors asked to revise their work should receive clear guidance and a reasonable window to resubmit. Final authority over acceptance and publication always rests with the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor.
Publication Ethics and Misconduct
Guest Editors are expected to safeguard research and publication integrity, and to flag any concerns — including plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication or falsification, authorship disputes, peer-review manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or improper AI use — in line with IJMES policy. Depending on the situation, this may lead to rejection, correction, retraction, or other corrective action.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to:
Keep all manuscript information confidential
Give objective, constructive feedback
Disclose any conflicts of interest
Never use confidential review material for personal benefit
Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe
Responsible Use of the Editorial System
Anyone using the IJMES submission and review platform must not manipulate the peer-review process, submit false reviewer information, access manuscripts without authorization, improperly share peer-review information, or otherwise interfere with editorial decisions or system operations.
Editorial Records
IJMES may retain editorial and peer-review records for legitimate purposes related to quality control, publication ethics, and recordkeeping, consistent with its Privacy Policy.