AMJR Policies

This journal gives prompt open admittance to its substance on the rule that making research unreservedly accessible to public backings a more noteworthy worldwide trade of information

1. Peer Review and Publication Policy

Allana Management Journal of Research (AMJR) follows a four-step review process for accepting a research paper for publication.

1. The initial screening, once the paper is submitted by the authors is done by editor. The screening process removes names of authors to facilitate double-blind peer-review. The aim of initial screening to ensure that only error free and plagiarism free research papers are forwarded to the reviewers. At this stage the submissions are converted to PDF.
2. AMJR believes in ETHOS. In order to maintain academic integrity, authors are expected to follow high ethical publication values. Plagiarism is discouraged. To avoid plagiarism, the paper is sent for plagiarism check and the plagiarism report is shared with all the authors.
3.  After the paper clears the plagiarism test (through Urkund Software), it is sent for a double-blind review in order to ensure a fair scrutiny of the author’s work. Two reviewers are allotted to a research paper. During the double-blind peer review, neither authors nor reviewers know each other’s names. The reviewer makes a fair and objective review of all the aspects expected of a research manuscript like, content, originality, relevance of the findings, data analysis and interpretation etc., offering constructive criticism and useful suggestions and recommendations.
4. After certified by both the reviewers and corrections by the author, an additional review is done by the Editor, who gives final suggestions and recommendations (if any) and the paper is accepted for publication in the journal. The final decision of accepting or rejecting the paper is left to Editor. Once the paper has been revised to the Editor’s satisfaction then the accepted submissions are sent for copyediting, proofreading and typesetting.

The editorial review policy and the review process is as follows:

Stage: 1 : First scrutiny is done by Chief Editor. This screening covers:  

• Manuscripts, covering letter, significance of the study, texts, charts, tables and annexures, appropriate referencing style, etc.
• Ensuring that the paper is within the scope of the journal.
• Overall paper structure viz: abstract, keywords, introduction, methodology, and outcome etc.

Acceptance of research paper

If the document submitted clears the above screening, provisional acceptance is sent to the author(s) along with the feedback and recommendations. Author(s) are asked to re-submit the documents with the changes in effect and a vouching certificate or a written declaration that the research paper is an original work of the author(s). The declaration form will be shared with the author(s). Upon acceptance of a paper and submission of declaration, the author(s) will have transferred the copyright of the paper to “Allana Management Journal of Research”, Allana Institute of Management Sciences, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune – 1. Copyrights of all accepted papers will be vest with Allana Management Journal of Research (AMJR)

Note: Provisional acceptance does not guarantee complete acceptance as it is just the first stage. It states that the paper can proceed for further scrutiny.

Rejection of research paper

If the manuscript doesn't fit with the most basic standard of AMJR, or is beyond the scope of AMJR it is rejected and author(s) are intimated about the same.

Stage: 2 Once the author submits the manuscript with changes, it is sent to double-blind peer review process.

Who does the blind Review?

• Doctorates who have appropriate experience in the relevant areas.
• Experts (researchers and academicians) in the relevant field.

Blind Review rules

• Author(s) and the blind review team should maintain confidentiality during double-blind review process.
• Reviewers should complete the review work before the deadline.
• The identities of the peer reviewers and the author(s) should not be disclosed to each other

Acceptance of the paper by blind-review committee

If the paper is accepted, the reviewers’ report with comments and recommendations are sent to the author. The author is supposed to do all the rectification within the given time frame and should resubmit the paper.

Rejection of the paper by blind-review committee

If the blind peer review finds the research paper not suitable and rejects the same, the research paper is returned to the authors with the comments for the rejection. This decision is final.

Stage: 3 After corrections, the research paper is ready for publication. Preprint proof is done by the editorial board before it is printed online or in the hardcopy form.

Screening Guidelines

Manuscript checklist/screening guidelines and evaluation sheet are sent to the reviewers. These guidelines help reviewers to identify errors / lacunas or technical/scientific/logic requisite. The Screening guidelines are provided on the journal website which increases the transparency of our policy. All members of the Editorial Board strictly follow the Manuscript screening guidelines to maintain the uniformity while scrutiny. Every Reviewer is required to evaluate the manuscript on the basis of given parameters and allot marks out of 50. In order to enhance the transparency, and research quality the marks of the respective papers are shared with the author(s)

Parameters:

• Significance of the study.
• Uniqueness and originality of the study.
• Seriousness of the research problem / research questions.
• Review of Literature and identification of gaps.
• Research Methodologies.
• Use of relevant analysis tools and techniques.
• Results and Discussions.
• Contribution to the body of knowledge / domain / society / industry.
• Appropriateness of Citations and Referencing.
• The extent to which the concept, the measurement tools and the outcome of the study are well-found, and validated.

Check List for Reviewer

The reviewer of the research papers is required to consider following points for reviewing the paper.

a) Plagiarism report (similarity index)

b) Title of the Paper

c) Abstract: brief on purpose, significance, methodology, outcome, uniqueness/originality and keywords.

d) Introduction

• Background of the study
• Research Problem identification process
• Problem Statement
• Objectives
• Hypothesis

j) Literature Review and Gap Analysis

k) Research methodology:  research design, sample design, sources of information

l) results and discussions

m) Contribution to the body knowledge

n) Uniqueness and originality

o) Scope of future research

p) Citations & APA style of referencing

q) Tables and figures are numbered and labeled

Responsibilities of the AMJR

Embargo policy is strictly followed to ensure that the papers submitted to Allana Management Journal of Research (AMJR) does not have an unwarranted access before it gets published in AMJR.

1. Until the research paper is published in AMJR, no other publication houses or public should have access to the paper.
2. AMJR takes all possible measures to ensure that there is no infringement of the rule either from the reviewers' or from the in-house editorial board members, the promise to confidentiality is not violated.
3. In case, the research paper is published elsewhere, breaching the contract of confidentiality, the paper will be rejected, even if it has been pre-approved by AMJR committees.
4. AMJR supports and encourages discussion of a particular manuscript and ideas related to it among the scientific committee or news media but care should be taken by the author not to reveal complete data or the complete manuscript or any other activity which hampers AMJR policies.

Responsibilities of the authors

The author(s) holds equal responsibility in the Embargo policy.

1. Once it is submitted for the publication at AMJR, the research paper should not be published elsewhere.
2. From the time of submission until the final decision of acceptance/rejection, the author is bound not to submit the paper elsewhere. Although, after it is accepted, authors can reveal the paper or data, but they need to cite that the full paper remains copyright of AMJR.
3. Author can discuss the paper but not to the extent that he/she discloses all or major details of the paper before the actual publication.
4. After the publication, the embargo will not be applicable and hence the author is free to post the research work anywhere, but with mandatory citations.

Responsibilities of media and publisher

The media should not publish any research work before the Embargo rule is not lifted. They should follow the ethical procedures.

Third Party Involvement and Embargo Policy

If the author desires to involve an expert, for advising him/her on the research paper, it will still be under the journal embargo policy. The expert/third party should follow the restrictions imposed.

3. Ethical Expectations

There is an ethical binding on all the members of the various departments of the Journal. Everyone is expected to perform his/her duties within certain ethical code. The following describes those roles and responsibilities of the various members working for the Journal:

Editor-in-Chief /Managing Editor/Editorial board Members/Peer Reviewers

Any discrimination on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, language, religious faith or political leanings should be avoided as it will mar the purpose of research.

Members should:

• Ensure that publication material is relevant, useful, within the scope of the Journal and contributing to the academic field in every possible way.
• Facilitates a fair, unbiased scrutiny of the author’s work, offering constructive criticism.
• Protect confidentiality in all matters.
• Handle cases of plagiarism and other copyright violation in a judicious manner.
• Ensures careful handling of cases of conflict of interests.
• Promptly responds to queries and complaints.
• Perform all editorial duties promptly.
• Investigate all complaints of ethical violations and unethical practices and conflict of interest promptly and in a fairly manner.
• Uphold the ethical values, the credibility and the integrity of the Journal.
• Refrain from copying any idea, thought, findings for their personal gains.

Authors Should:

• Ensure that they submit only those manuscripts which have not been previously published, not been accepted for publication, not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
• Preserve and maintain accurate data of the submitted manuscript and submit to the journal office on request.
• Submit original manuscripts following the research standards of the AMJR and adhering to its policies.
• Acknowledge material borrowed from other sources through proper citation and referencing.
• Inform and written consent should be taken from the human subjects if the manuscript reports any human involved study and should respect their privacy by appropriately masking their identity.
• Declare any potential conflict of interest among the co-authors during the submission of the manuscript.
• The corresponding author should assign authorship based on the norms set by UGC and other regulatory bodies.
• Declare if the manuscript has been presented anywhere else (conference, seminars etc.) before or during the manuscript submission.
• Inform and take written consent from concerned individuals / organizations if the manuscript includes any data or photographs or names of the individuals/ organizations. If the consent is not obtained the responsibility of conflicts/ controversies arising therein lies with the authors.
• Intimate the editor about any error identified in the manuscript submitted under review.
• Provide details and data required by the Editorial office of the Journal promptly adhering to all due dates.
• Declare originality of the work.
• Ensure honoring of privacy and confidentiality wherever required.
• Provide citations and acknowledgments for borrowed sources in the prescribed format
• Avoid any other matter which is unfair or can lead to unfair results and is illegal in the court of law.

Request for withdrawals of research manuscript can be done within a week of manuscript submission.

"PLAGIARISM" means the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional both are not acceptable to AMJR. The authors are required to provide papers which are original and unique in terms of contribution to the body of knowledge or solicit pragmatic managerial implications. AMJR follows a strict anti-plagiarism policy and discourages infringement of any type. Authors should not copy material or ideas from other published sources. Papers more than 10% of similarity index will not be accepted. All the borrowed material should be duly acknowledged. AMJR strictly follows UGC regulations regarding plagiarism and its amendment from time to time.

If the final decision of the peer review team is rejection of a research manuscript but the author feels that it is not justified, he/she can make an appeal within 15 days of rejection notification. Author should send a written e-mail to the Editor-in-Chief raising his/her concern. If the concern raised is found genuine by the Editor-in-Chief, author may be given another opportunity to work on the research manuscript and the resubmitted document will be reassessed.

AJMR has a very easy complaints policy. The authors can directly register their complaints through the contact mentioned on the journal website. Any type of grievances/complaints will be resolved within a maximum of two weeks and the authors are informed accordingly.

Strict confidentiality is maintained in matters related to manuscripts, correspondences made with authors and reviewers, and complaints lodged. The same is expected from the Authors, Reviewers, and Editorial Staff. The manuscripts, comments from the peer-reviewers, correspondences made, emails, etc should not be revealed to any unauthorized person/body/forum/website. The journal can reveal the communication, emails, etc. for the purpose of its policies as and when the need arises.

If authors borrow material from other sources, they should acknowledge and cite the source of such material. If any permission needed for this reproduction, it is the author's responsibility to obtain all permissions prior to publication. This also includes author's own previously published material, even if authors are not the copyright holder. It is the author's responsibility to pay any fees associated with publishing data from another source. Copyrighted material can be reproduced, if required by the author, on getting written permission from the copyright owner.

As far as the copyright policy of our journal is concerned, we abide by all the rules and regulations of the Government of India and international standards and its amendments from time to time.

The manuscript published by AMJR is in electronic format. The manuscripts and journals are published online with a few print editions. The various guidelines are followed as far as content preservation is concerned:

1. The Published full text of the manuscript would be available in PDF format/word format.

2. The authors and others can download the PDF for their access.

3. All the published research papers are stored in the archive tab which can be accessed at any point of time.

4.  All our electronic content (websites, journals, manuscripts etc.) is stored by our publisher UBI journal publishers on their designated servers and a suitable back up is made for the safety of the content.