Reviewer Guidelines

The International Journal of Data-Driven Management and Business Strategy  is committed to a fair, rigorous, transparent, and ethical peer-review process. Reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the quality and integrity of published research.

1. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers should:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively and independently.
  • Assess the originality, quality, relevance, methodology, and significance of the research.
  • Provide constructive and professional feedback.
  • Identify major strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript.
  • Support editorial decisions through clear and evidence-based recommendations.
  • Treat authors and their work with respect.

2. Confidentiality

Manuscripts submitted for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not:

  • Share manuscript content with unauthorized individuals.
  • Discuss the manuscript outside the review process.
  • Use unpublished information for personal or professional benefit.
  • Upload confidential manuscript content to AI systems where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

3. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers should disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest before accepting a review assignment.

A reviewer should decline the assignment if a personal, professional, financial, institutional, or academic relationship could compromise their impartiality.

4. Review Criteria

Reviewers should consider the following:

  • Originality and novelty
  • Relevance to the journal's scope
  • Clarity of research objectives
  • Quality of the literature review
  • Appropriateness of methodology
  • Data quality and analysis
  • Validity of results and conclusions
  • Reproducibility and transparency
  • Quality of tables, figures, and supporting materials
  • References and scholarly contribution
  • Research and publication ethics

5. Data and Analytical Integrity

Because IJDDMBS focuses on data-driven management and business strategy, reviewers should pay particular attention to the quality, appropriateness, and interpretation of data and analytical methods. Where necessary, reviewers may request clarification regarding datasets, statistical methods, models, assumptions, or analytical procedures.

6. Reviewer Comments

Review reports should be:

  • Clear and specific
  • Constructive and respectful
  • Academically justified
  • Focused on the manuscript rather than the authors personally
  • Helpful to authors in improving the quality of their work

Personal criticism, offensive language, and unsupported accusations should be avoided.

7. Recommendation

Reviewers may recommend:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

The final decision remains the responsibility of the journal's editorial team.

8. Artificial Intelligence

Reviewers should not use generative AI tools to process confidential manuscripts unless such use is explicitly permitted and appropriate confidentiality can be maintained. Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their review reports.

9. Timely Reviews

Reviewers should complete assignments within the agreed timeframe. If they are unable to complete a review, they should inform the editorial office promptly so that another reviewer can be invited.

10. Ethical Concerns

Reviewers should notify the editorial team if they identify potential concerns involving:

  • Plagiarism
  • Fabrication or falsification of data
  • Duplicate publication
  • Manipulation of results
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Unethical research practices
  • Suspicious or potentially fabricated references