Author Guidelines

1. General Guidelines for Manuscript Preparation

a) Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting your manuscript to JSMS, authors are responsible for ensuring that their work is complete, accurate, and ready for review. Key points to verify include:

  • Fit and Scope: Ensure your manuscript aligns with the journal’s aims and scope. Submissions outside the scope may be rejected without peer review.
  • Ethics and Permissions: Ensure compliance with research and publishing ethics, and secure permissions for any reproduced or third-party content.
  • Formatting and Style: Follow all formatting and style requirements outlined in these guidelines and the latest APA 7th
  • Anonymity: Remove any identifying information to maintain the integrity of the double-blind peer review. Use neutral phrasing when referring to your own prior work (e.g., “previous research has shown…”).
  • Final Checks: Ensure tables, figures, acknowledgments, and endnotes do not contain identifying details. Confirm all references, tables, and figures are cited correctly.

b) Manuscript Submission and Author Process

  • Submission Portal: All manuscripts submitted to the JSMS must be submitted exclusively through the journal’s online submission portal. Submissions can be made by visiting the official JSMS journal website and accessing the editorial system.
  • Corresponding Author: Manuscripts must be submitted directly by the corresponding author through the journal portal. Submissions sent via email, or through third-party agents, journal representatives, companies, or proxy services, will not be accepted.
  • Account Registration: Authors are required to create an individual author account within the submission system. A separate account is required for each journal submission. First-time users should select the “Create an account” or “Register” option when accessing the portal. Returning users may log in using their existing credentials. The email address used during registration will serve as the username for all future logins.
  • ORCID iD: During submission, authors are strongly encouraged to provide their ORCID iD. The ORCID iD will be included in the published article and linked to the ORCID registry, enabling accurate attribution of authorship and enhancing research visibility.
  • Technical Assistance: For technical assistance with manuscript submission, authors may contact the editorial office by email.
  • File Formats: Manuscripts must be submitted in editable Word format (.doc or .docx). PDF submissions are not accepted.

c) Required Submission Files 

When submitting your manuscript to the JSMS, authors should prepare and upload the following files through the online submission portal. Each file serves a clear editorial or peer-review purpose.

1.         Tile Page

Upload a dedicated Title Page containing:

●       Article title

●       Full names, affiliations, active email IDs, and ORCID iDs of all authors

●       Corresponding author’s contact details (including email)

2.         Cover Letter (Brief)

·        A separate file for a cover letter needs to be submitted with each manuscript submission. It should be concise and explain why the content of the paper is significant, placing the findings in the context of existing work. It should also confirm the novelty and originality of the work.  The cover letter should be concise (not a repeat of the abstract).

3.         Main Manuscript File

·        The full manuscript text, including title page, abstract, keywords, main text, references, tables, and figure captions. The document must be submitted in Microsoft Word format and should be fully editable.

·        Ensure the manuscript is complete and ready for review (no proofreading marks, tracked changes, comments, or identifying information).

4.         Table Files

·        Upload separate files for the Tables.

·        All tables must be prepared in strict accordance with the APA latest edition (currently 7th edition) guidelines, including formatting, numbering, titles, notes, and source acknowledgments.

·        All tables should be submitted in an editable format to enable efficient review and typesetting. Tables generated directly using specialised software (e.g., statistical or analytical software) may be submitted in non-editable formats, provided they are clearly formatted, readable, and suitable for publication.

·        All tables must include appropriate credit, acknowledgment, or attribution if permission has been granted for their use. If the table is the original work of the author(s), this should be clearly stated in the table caption.

5.         Figure Files

·        High-resolution versions of all figures, submitted as separate files.

·        All figures must be prepared in strict accordance with the APA 7th edition guidelines, including formatting, numbering, titles, notes, and source acknowledgments.

·        All figures must be provided in an editable format to facilitate review and production. Figures generated directly using specialised software (e.g., statistical, modelling, or visualisation software) should be provided in high resolution and clearly legible.

·        All figures must include appropriate credit, acknowledgment, or attribution if permission has been granted for their use. If the figures is the original work of the author(s), this should be clearly stated in the figure caption.

6. Supplementary/Supporting Files (if applicable)

·        Additional materials that support the paper but are not essential for the main text: supplementary data, multimedia files, or extended tables or questionnaires.

·        Authors should label these clearly and refer to them in the manuscript.

7.         Declarations and Statements

Upload the separate declaration files, including:

●       Conflict of Interest (mandatory)

●       Acknowledgement (s) (only if any)

●       Author Contribution Statement (mandatory)

●       Funding Information (mandatory)

●       Ethical Statement (mandatory)

●       Data Availability Statement (mandatory)

8.     Author Identification

Authors are encouraged to add a brief professional biography (not more than 100 words) to the submission and upload it in the portal in a separate file. This should be a single paragraph and should contain the following points:

  1. Authors’ full names followed by current positions
  2. Education background, including institution information
  3. Work experience
  4. Research interests
  5. Memberships of professional societies and awards received.

In multi-authored papers, ALL authors who have made a significant contribution to the paper must be listed. Those who have provided support but have not contributed to the research should be featured in the acknowledgements section. The submission should never include people who have not contributed to the paper or who do not want to be associated with the research.

9.     Affiliation and Independent Researcher

·        All authors should list their current affiliation during the submission of their manuscript.  Author names and affiliations must be correct.  After the publication of an article, updates or corrections to the author’s address or affiliation may not be permitted.

·        If one or all the authors are not currently affiliated with a university, institution, or company, or have not been during the development of the manuscript, they should list themselves as an “Independent Researcher”.

 d) Manuscript Preparation

  • Text Font and Spacing: Arial, 11 pt, single-spaced, 1-inch margins.
  • Table Font and Spacing: Arial Narrow 11 pt, single-spaced·
  • Language: British English (UK English): Submissions must consistently use UK English and should not alternate with American or other variants of English.
  • Word Count: 6,000 – 10,000 words, including all texts for examples, abstracts, main texts, tables, figures, references, and all other supplementary materials.
  • Author Limit: The number of authors should be limited to six (6) only.
  • Correspondence: If there are two or more authors, it must indicate which author will handle the correspondence.
  • Headings: Headings must be concise, with a clear indication of the required hierarchy. The latest APA guidelines need to be followed.
  • Justified: The manuscript needs to be justified.
  • In-text citations, references, tables, and figures: Follow APA latest edition (currently 7th edition)
  • References: Listed alphabetically; automatic formatting not accepted
  • Notes/Endnotes: Only if necessary; numbered consecutively in square brackets

e) Article Type and Classification 

During the submission process, the author will be asked to select the type and category of their paper:

Research Paper:  Manuscripts reporting any form of research conducted by the authors, including: a) development or testing of models or frameworks; b) action research; c) testing of data, surveys, or market research; d) empirical, scientific, or clinical investigations, and e) research with practical or applied relevance.

Review Papers: JSMS encourages submission of review papers that provide a critical and integrative evaluation of the existing literature in the thematic scope of the journal. These papers should:

  • Synthesise and analyse prior research, identifying trends, patterns, and knowledge gaps.
  • Critically assess theories, frameworks, and methodologies used in previous studies.
  • Offer a structured narrative that advances understanding, highlights unresolved questions, and suggests directions for future research.
  • Ensure relevance and originality, demonstrating how the review contributes to the field and aligns with the journal’s scope.

Review papers may adopt a systematic, narrative, or conceptual approach, but must go beyond summarising past studies, providing insightful critique, clear organisation, and scholarly rigor. Submissions will be evaluated on clarity, analytical depth, and contribution to advancing knowledge in the discipline.

Conceptual Paper: Focusing on hypothesis development, theoretical or philosophical discussion, and comparative studies of other authors’ work and thinking.

Analytical Case Study: An analytical case study describes practical interventions or experiences within organisations, including real or hypothetical cases used for teaching or learning purposes. Submissions should:

  • Provide a clear background outlining key organisational issues.
  • Present analysis, management strategies, and possible solutions.
  • Highlight lessons learned and insights applicable to practice.
  • Explain any corrections, ambiguities, or inconsistencies logically.

The focus is on practical relevance and critical analysis rather than reporting original research data.

Grounded Theory Research: The research should develop a theory rather than test it. The objective is to present a thorough explanation of the phenomenon by methodically examining several sources of information, such as observations, interviews, historical documents, and quantitative sources.

f) Ethical and Publication Policies 

  • Submission implies originality, non-duplicate work, and exclusive consideration for JSMS
  • Accepted papers may not be republished elsewhere without the editor's consent
  • The ideas and opinions expressed in the papers published in the journal are solely those of the author(s).

g) Structure of the Manuscript: For the preparation of the Manuscript, download the template 

 

2. After Submission

  • Authors will receive an automated confirmation email containing a manuscript ID.
  • This manuscript ID will be referenced in all future correspondence.
  • If you suspect that the confirmation email is unauthorised or fraudulent, please contact the journal editorial office immediately for verification.

 

3. Post Submission Activities 

a) Review and Decision Process

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the journal’s editorial office to assess compliance with the journal’s submission policies, ethical standards, aims, and scope. At this stage,  manuscripts may be declined or returned to the authors if they fall outside the journal’s scope, fail to meet submission requirements, or if the overall language quality and scholarly presentation are considered insufficient for peer review.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are forwarded to at least two independent experts for double-blind peer review, in which both authors’ and reviewers’ identities remain anonymous. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript’s originality, methodological rigor, theoretical contribution, clarity, and relevance to the field.

Based on the reviewers’ reports and the editor’s assessment, one of the following editorial decisions will be communicated to the corresponding author:

  • Acceptance
  • Minor revision
  • Major revision
  • Rejection

While review timelines may vary, JSMS aims to provide authors with a first editorial decision within approximately 30–45 days of submission.

Throughout the review process, authors will receive automated status updates via the online submission system. Authors may also log in at any time to track the current status of their manuscript. All official correspondence will reference the manuscript ID assigned at submission. If authors receive any communication that does not include this identifier or appears inconsistent with official journal correspondence, they are advised to contact the editorial office promptly for verification.

b) Manuscript transfer service

JSMS offers a voluntary manuscript recommendation service to assist authors whose submissions are not suitable for publication due to scope, focus, or strategic alignment. At the editorial team’s discretion, authors may receive guidance on alternative journals that better match their research, without any implication of endorsement or acceptance. The service is free of charge, does not influence editorial decisions, and does not affect authors’ ability to submit future manuscripts to JSMS.

c) Proofing and Typesetting

The manuscript will undergo editorial checks, copyediting, and typesetting before galley proofs are sent to the corresponding author for review. This stage allows authors to correct typographical or grammatical errors and verify author details. Requests to rework or rewrite the manuscript cannot be accommodated at this stage.

d) Online First Version

Once page proofs are finalised, the fully typeset article is published online as an EarlyCite version. It receives a DOI and is fully citable, even before being assigned to a journal issue. Articles are later compiled into an issue according to the journal’s publication schedule, with papers being added by chronological date of publication.

 

4. Citation and Referencing Guidelines (APA 7th Edition)

References and citations should strictly adhere to the latest APA 7th edition, described as follows, depending on the type of work: