FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Types of submissions

Question:

What are the various types of submissions that can be made to JIBS?

Answer:

When an author submits a manuscript to the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS) using the Manuscript Central system at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs there are five choices in the drop-down menu:

  • Original Manuscript
  • Research Note
  • Perspective
  • Invited Submission
  • Other

The first category - Original Manuscript (Article) - is the preferred type of submission.

JIBS seeks to publish original manuscripts based on cutting-edge research that breaks new ground, rather than merely making an incremental contribution to international business research. They should address real-world phenomena, problems or puzzles; build on relevant prior research to highlight what is interesting and different; and include a clear statement of their contribution to international business research. Manuscripts with no theoretical contribution to international business or no specific relevance to the domain of international business studies should not be sent to JIBS. Manuscripts making strong contributions to the international business literature should be about 10,000 words; those making narrower contributions about 7,000 words. Word count includes everything: abstract, text, endnotes, references, tables, figures and appendices. If a manuscript makes a small contribution, either the contribution should be improved, the manuscript shortened to research note length, or the manuscript submitted to another journal. It is in the author's best interests to be very judicious about manuscript length. Manuscripts considerably longer than these guidelines will be returned immediately without review.

Manuscripts will be occasionally submitted as a Research Note. JIBS's Information for Contributors explains the differences between articles and research notes as follows: "JIBS welcomes the submission of both articles and research notes, but articles are preferred to notes....Research notes should be under 4,000 words, including everything in the manuscript. Research notes should have the same rigor, style and tone as full-length articles. Notes should identify relevant prior research, clearly articulate their contribution to international business research, and provide compelling evidence for their arguments. Notes are different from articles in that the contribution either has a narrower audience, is more technical or more limited in its contributions, or comments on previous JIBS articles. Most research notes are originally submitted as full-length manuscripts, which become notes at the recommendation of the reviewers."

Manuscripts will also occasionally be submitted as a Perspective. These are manuscripts specifically designed to provide different perspectives - ones that are often deliberately controversial or challenging to mainstream views - on international business research. Perspectives should contribute to the advancement of international business research in one of the following ways: (1) commenting broadly and critically on the state of research in a particular area of international business studies, (2) critically evaluating and comparing two or more books in the context of a wide-ranging essay that identifies key research frontiers, (3) tracing the intellectual history of the paradigm-building and paradigm-challenging process on a core topic, (4) evaluating commonly used sources of data or research methods on a selected topic, or (5) presenting a debate on both sides of an important issue or topic in international business. Perspectives must have the same rigor, style and tone as articles; should identify relevant prior research; clearly articulate their contribution to international business research; and provide compelling evidence for their arguments.

Occasionally, an article will be Invited for the Journal (for example, an exceptional Commentary on the JIBS Decade Award winning paper or the introductory essay by the Guest Editors of a Special Issue). In these cases, the invited manuscript goes through a single-blind review process (where the author does not know the reviewers) rather than the regular double-blind review process that applies to original manuscripts, research notes and perspectives submissions.

The last category - Other - includes, for example, Letters from the JIBS Editor-in-Chief or Editors. Authors should, with rare exceptions, never check this box.

If you are not sure which category to select, please contact Anne Hoekman, Managing Editor, for more assistance.

Regardless of the category, all submissions to JIBS must:

  • fit within the domain of international business studies as defined by the JIBS Statement of Editorial Policy;
  • abide by the various JIBS policy statements including Information for Contributors and the Code of Ethics; and
  • meet the test for publication in JIBS: JIBS is dedicated to publishing insightful and influential articles on international business that are widely read and cited by business and management scholars.
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International Business Letters

Question:

Does JIBS still accept submissions to the International Business Letters (IBL) section? If not, is this section being replaced by Research Notes?

Answer:

Submissions to International Business Letters (IBL) are no longer accepted after July 1, 2007, and the IBL section will no longer appear in JIBS after 2007. The new JIBS includes two basic categories of submissions: Articles and Research Notes. Information on the two categories can be found in the JIBS Information for Contributors and is summarized below:

  • JIBS welcomes the submission of both articles and research notes, but articles are preferred to notes. Articles making strong contributions to the international business literature should be about 10,000 words; those making narrower contributions about 7,000 words. Research notes should be under 4,000 words and have the same rigor, style and tone as full-length articles. Notes should identify relevant prior research, clearly articulate their contribution to international business research, and provide compelling evidence for their arguments. Notes are different from articles in that the contribution either has a narrower audience, is more technical or more limited in its contributions, or comments on previous JIBS articles. Most research notes are originally submitted as full-length manuscripts, which become notes at the recommendation of the reviewers.

IBL submissions should either be submitted as Research Notes or submitted to another publication such as AIB Insights.

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JIBS Office closures

Question:

Are there times of the year when the JIBS Office is closed? What are the implications of the closure?

Answer:

Yes, the JIBS Office is closed twice a year.

The first time period is the two-week period around the Academy of International Business (AIB) annual conference. The actual dates will vary from year to year, depending on the dates and location of the meeting. The Office will be closed because the JIBS Managing Editor and the Editor-in-Chief, along with many of the Editors, attend the annual AIB meeting and are actively involved in journal activities there.

The second time period is based on the official winter semester breaks for Michigan State University (JIBS Office location) and Texas A&M University (Editor-in-Chief's location). The office closure will normally begin a few days before December 25 and extend for approximately 10 days to two weeks afterwards. The actual dates will vary from year to year and will be posted on the Manuscript Central login page.

The Manuscript Central system will not accept new manuscript submissions during these two time periods. Revise-and-resubmits and accepted manuscripts, as well as reviewer comments, can continue to be submitted throughout the time period. However, documents will not be catalogued or processed by the JIBS Office during that time. Please contact the Managing Editor if you have further questions about the Office closure dates or implications.

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Pre-submission advice from Editors

Question:

I am interested in submitting a paper to JIBS. Can an Editor tell me whether my paper is appropriate for JIBS or suggest some possible revisions?

Answer:

Thank you for your interest in submitting to JIBS. Unfortunately, we cannot provide editorial comments on papers in the pre-submission stage to the journal.

As general advice during the pre-submission stage, the JIBS Editors recommend that all authors read carefully the JIBS policy documents, including the Statement of Editorial Policy, Information for Contributors, Code of Ethics, etc., prior to finalizing and submitting your manuscript to JIBS.

You may also find the FAQ section of the website helpful. Lastly, it may be useful, for comparison purposes, to read some papers posted on the Advance Online Publication section of the JIBS website; these papers have all been recently accepted for publication in the journal.

When your paper is ready for submission through the JIBS formal review process, please submit it online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs.

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Reviewer recommendations

Question:

I cannot identify any reviewers on the Editorial Review Board or Consulting Editors Board who have the research background needed to evaluate my paper. Can I nominate someone who is not currently on a JIBS board to review my paper?

Answer:

Yes, if you feel it is necessary to nominate someone other than those currently listed, you may do so. However, you must follow the JIBS Code of Ethics when making any reviewer recommendations: do not nominate reviewers who violate the conflict of interest guidelines (e.g., they have read your paper, are at your institution, are co-authors on another paper).

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Special issue proposals

Question:

I would like to propose a special issue. How can I do this?

Answer:

At the moment, the editorial team is not planning to add to the list of special issues that are currently in process. However, if you feel you have a special issue that JIBS should consider, you may email Editor-in-Chief Lorraine Eden with an informal proposal (1-3 pages). On receiving an informal proposal, the Editor-in-Chief normally considers it in consultation with the JIBS editors. If the editorial team then decided to proceed, you would be asked to develop a formal proposal.

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Prior publication

Question:

An earlier version of my manuscript is (or will be) published in a conference proceedings (or conference best paper proceedings). Can I still submit the paper to JIBS for publication consideration?

Answer:

Yes, you may still submit your paper to JIBS. As outlined in the JIBS Code of Ethics, submissions to JIBS cannot be submitted or published elsewhere, with the exception of conference proceedings where the paper is work in progress toward the manuscript submitted to JIBS. Note that the author must inform the JIBS Office of the conference proceedings paper at the time of submission (there is space for this in screen 5 of the Manuscript Central submission process).

The JIBS Code of Ethics also states that authors should not post their submitted manuscripts (including working papers and prior drafts) on publically searchable websites where they could be easily discovered by potential reviewers. If the conference proceedings paper is posted online, the author should request that it be taken down for the duration of the JIBS review process. If the paper cannot be removed, the author should also inform the JIBS Office, in screen 5 of the Manuscript Central submission process.

For additional clarification please contact the JIBS Managing Editor or view the JIBS Information for Contributors or Code of Ethics.

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Manuscript Central accounts for JIBS board members

Question:

I am a member of one of the editorial boards under Editor-in-Chief Lorraine Eden. Do I have an account in the Manuscript Central system?

Answer:

Accounts were created in the Manuscript Central system for all new ERB and CEB members. If you do not know or do not remember your account information, please go to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs and enter your e-mail address in the "Password Help" box there. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Managing Editor, Anne Hoekman.

Question:

I was a member of the editorial team under Editor-in-Chief Arie Lewin but am not on one of the boards under Lorraine Eden. Do I need to sign up on the new Manuscript Central system in order to keep reviewing for JIBS or to submit a paper?

Answer:

Yes, members of the old editorial team, whose terms expired on December 31, 2007, need to sign up for an account on the new JIBS Manuscript Central system in order to review or submit papers. Account information was not automatically transferred from the old Outdare system to Manuscript Central.

We are looking for ad hoc reviewers and would very much appreciate your signing up and offering to review for the Journal. Please see the question on ad hoc reviewing to learn how to sign up for an account.

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Joining a JIBS editorial board

Question:

How do I join the JIBS Editorial Review Board or Consulting Editors Board?

Answer:

The two JIBS boards - the Consulting Editors Board (CEB) and the Editorial Review Board (ERB) - have already been created for July 2007 through December 2008, so these boards are closed. However, we will have a second set of boards for January 2009 through December 2010. Invitations to join these boards will be issued in Fall 2008.

The best way to join one of these boards is to (1) publish in JIBS and in other top-tier journals and (2) actively review for JIBS. (3) Another useful step is to email the Area Editor or Editors who are closest to your own research interests, attach your curriculum vitae, and tell them you would like to review for JIBS and are interested in joining one of the 2009-2010 boards.

The Journal welcomes ad hoc reviewers. Please see the question on ad hoc reviewing to learn how to sign up.

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Expiration of JIBS review boards

Question:

I think I am a member of the current JIBS Editorial Review Board. When does my term expire? How do I find out who is on what board?

Answer:

The JIBS Editorial Review Board (ERB) (listed at http://www.outdare.com/jibs/org/edit_rvw_board.php) and Consulting Editors Board (CEB) (listed at http://www.outdare.com/jibs/org/consulting_editors.php) under former Editor-in-Chief Arie Lewin completed their terms as of December 31, 2007. We thank them for their service to JIBS.

The current JIBS Editorial Review Board members are posted on the Internet at: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/editorial_board.html. The current Consulting Editors Board members are posted here: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jibs/consulting_editors.html.

The current boards started July 1, 2007, and will run through December 31, 2008. Their names appear on the masthead of the journal starting with the first issue of 2008. We will have a second set of boards for January 2009 through December 2010.

See the corresponding FAQ if you would like to find out how to join a future JIBS board or sign up as an ad hoc reviewer. You may contact Managing Editor Anne Hoekman if you need to change how your name or affiliation is listed.

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Explanation of editorial boards

Question:

What is the difference between the JIBS Editorial Review Board and the JIBS Consulting Editors Board?

Answer:

The Editorial Review Board (ERB) consists of approximately 150 active authors and reviewers for JIBS. Individuals are nominated by both the outgoing and incoming JIBS Editors, based on their scholarly publications and the number and quality of their previous reviews for JIBS. Decisions are made by the incoming Editors based primarily on scholarly productivity and research interests, but geographic location, nationality and gender are also considered.

ERB members are expected to: (1) Complete up to 10 reviews annually for the Journal. This includes both first-round and subsequent rounds of reviews. (2) Follow the JIBS Guidelines for Reviewers. (3) Complete these reviews in a timely fashion (within 30 days of receipt of the manuscript). (4) Attend a JIBS Board meeting at the annual meetings of the Academy of International Business (AIB), where possible.

The Consulting Editors Board (CEB) consists of approximately 30 senior scholars in the field of international business studies. These individuals have agreed to provide a variety of supportive editorial roles for the Editor-in-Chief and the Editors. The roles will vary across the Consulting Editors, but can include, for example: being a Guest Editor for an individual manuscript that cannot be handled by one of the Editors; participating in the JIBS Paper Development Workshop; acting as a "tie-breaker" reviewer in a case where the decision is not clear cut; and providing a second opinion in cases where an author complains about an Editor's decision. The responsibilities of CEB members fall into three categories:

  • General Responsibilities: (1) Provide advice to the Editor-in-Chief and act as a general ambassador for the Journal. (2) Assist the Editor-in-Chief with ad hoc tasks associated with editing the Journal. (3) Where possible, attend and participate in a JIBS Editors meeting at the annual meetings of the AIB. (4) Be a member in good standing of the AIB.

  • Guest Editor Responsibilities: Act as a Guest Editor for up to three new manuscripts annually for the Journal (approximately one every four months). As a Guest Editor, the CEB member handles all stages of the manuscript process, from selection of reviewers to writing editorial decision letters, through the new JIBS Manuscript Central system. Guest Editors also comply with the normal responsibilities of being a guest editor of a major academic journal (e.g., completing editorial responsibilities in a timely fashion, respecting the double blind review process, complying with ethical guidelines).

  • Reviewer Responsibilities: (1) Complete up to three reviews of new manuscripts annually for the Journal (approximately one every four months). (2) Handle all subsequent reviews associated with the revise-and-resubmit process on these manuscripts through the new JIBS Manuscript Central system. (3) Complete your reviews in a timely fashion (normally within 30 days of receipt of the manuscript). (4) Comply with the JIBS Instructions for Reviewers.

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Ad hoc reviewing

Question:

How do I become an ad hoc reviewer for The New JIBS?

Answer:

Thank you for your willingness to review for JIBS. To sign up for an account with the JIBS Manuscript Central system, please go to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs and click on "Create Account," in the upper right-hand corner. After you have entered the required contact information, you will be asked to select keywords that identify your research interests. Please choose up to six keywords from the list provided.

Then, when an author or editor searches on Keywords to identify a possible reviewer, your name will come up. An invitation to review should follow shortly. Please note that Manuscript Central clearly identifies how many open files each reviewer has in his or her queue so that editors do not overload a reviewer with multiple files.

If you have already signed up for a JIBS Manuscript Central account as an author, you were automatically given an ad hoc reviewer account under the same user name and password. If you do not see a "Reviewer Center" in your account, please contact the Managing Editor, Anne Hoekman.

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Notifying the JIBS Office of unavailability

Question:

I am a JIBS reviewer and am going to be unavailable to review for a period of time. Is there a way I can tell the JIBS Office not to send me new manuscripts during that time frame?

Answer:

Yes, there is a way to tell the JIBS Office when you are unavailable to handle manuscripts. Log into your JIBS account at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs. Click on "edit account" in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Click through the screens until you reach the "User ID and Password" screen. You will see a box on this screen that says:

Fill in the dates when you will be unavailable.

Click "Finish" at the bottom of the page. If you have successfully entered the change you should get a new screen that says: "You have successfully modified your user account."

Or, email the start and end dates of your unavailability to the Managing Editor.

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Appealing an editorial decision

Question:

My paper was rejected, but I feel that some important aspects were missed and that it does make a strong contribution to IB research and fits within the JIBS Statement of Editorial Policy. How can I appeal this decision?

Answer:

The JIBS editors have developed a policy to handle appeals. Please send a detailed letter to the editor on the file, with a copy to the Managing Editor, explaining why you think the editor's decision should be reversed. The editor will review the appeal and respond with a decision letter. If the editor decides to reverse his or her original decision, the Managing Editor will contact you with further instructions, and you will have four months to resubmit, as with any other revisions. If the editor rejects the appeal, you may choose to appeal this decision to the JIBS Editor-in-Chief. Note that the Editor-in-Chief will only overturn editors' decisions in exceptional cases.

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Rejections based on fit

Question:

My paper was rejected because it did not fit within the JIBS Statement of Editorial Policy. I submitted it to JIBS because I felt like it was a perfect match. Can you provide me with more details?

Answer:

Unfortunately, because of the number of manuscripts we receive, it is difficult to answer each enquiry about which part of the editorial policy was not met. However, there are many details to consider, such as if your paper is more for practitioners, not academics. The more general question is whether your paper will be of interest to JIBS readers. For example, do you cite JIBS articles in your manuscript? Is your issue one that has been discussed in JIBS over the past few years? Is your topic of interest to a broader audience of international business professors?

It may be helpful to keep in mind the following "fit" and "quality" criteria, which the Reviewing Editor and Editor-in-Chief use to evaluate a paper's suitability for JIBS.

Fit:

  • Is the problem addressed an international business problem?
  • Is the research likely to be interesting to international business scholars?
  • Does the manuscript have the potential to advance our knowledge of international business theory, research or practice?
  • Is JIBS the most appropriate journal for publication of this manuscript?

Quality:

  • Does the manuscript conform to generally accepted standards of scholarship in style and content?
  • Does the manuscript have intellectual depth?
  • Are the methods/analysis in the manuscript appropriate to the research question being asked? Do they appear to be reasonably rigorous?
  • Is the manuscript reasonably clearly written?
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Turnaround time

Question:

How long does it usually take for authors to receive an editorial decision after submitting a manuscript to JIBS?

Answer:

We try to complete all editorial decisions within three months of receiving a manuscript for review. Our average turnaround time is currently about 60 days.