Peer Review Process
Fokus Bisnis: Media Pengkajian Manajemen dan Akuntansi (FOKBIS) applies a peer-review process to ensure that manuscripts considered for publication meet appropriate standards of originality, academic contribution, methodological quality, relevance, and research integrity.
All manuscripts are initially evaluated by the editorial team before being sent for external review. Manuscripts that pass this preliminary assessment are reviewed using a double-blind peer-review system, in which the identities of the authors and reviewers are concealed from each other.
Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the subject of the manuscript. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and academically grounded comments that assist both the authors in improving their work and the editors in reaching an informed decision.
The final decision on a manuscript remains the responsibility of the editorial team. Reviewer recommendations form an important part of the decision-making process but do not automatically determine the editorial decision.
Editorial and Peer Review Workflow
The workflow may involve more than one round of revision and review when necessary.
Review Procedure
1. Initial Editorial Screening
Every new submission is first examined by the editorial team. The initial screening considers the manuscript's relevance to the Focus and Scope of FOKBIS, originality, academic contribution, methodological adequacy, ethical compliance, clarity of presentation, completeness of submission, and adherence to the journal's Author Guidelines. Manuscripts that do not meet essential requirements may be declined without external peer review.
2. Reviewer Selection
Manuscripts that pass the editorial screening are assigned to at least two independent reviewers. Reviewers are selected on the basis of subject expertise, methodological competence, academic experience, and the absence of known conflicts of interest.
3. Double-Blind Peer Review
FOKBIS applies a double-blind peer-review system. Information identifying the authors is concealed from reviewers, and the identities of reviewers are not disclosed to the authors. Reviewers assess the manuscript independently and provide comments, recommendations, and reasons supporting their evaluation.
4. Editorial Decision
The editor evaluates the reviewer reports together with the manuscript and determines the appropriate editorial decision. When reviewer recommendations differ substantially, the editor may seek clarification, invite an additional reviewer, or make a decision based on the overall scholarly assessment of the manuscript.
5. Revision and Author Response
When revision is required, authors are expected to address the comments of reviewers and editors carefully. A revised manuscript should be accompanied by a point-by-point response explaining how each comment has been addressed and identifying the corresponding changes in the manuscript. When authors disagree with a recommendation, a clear academic justification should be provided.
6. Further Review
Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers when further evaluation is necessary. More than one round of revision may be conducted before a final decision is made.
7. Final Decision
The final decision is made by the responsible editor after consideration of the manuscript, reviewer reports, author responses, and revisions. Acceptance is based on the manuscript's overall academic quality and suitability for publication in FOKBIS.
8. Production and Publication
Once accepted, the manuscript enters the production stage, which may include copyediting, layout preparation, proofreading, author checking, metadata verification, and final publication through the journal's OJS platform.
Types of Editorial Decision
The manuscript is considered suitable for publication and may proceed to the production stage after any final editorial requirements are completed.
Limited revisions are required. The editor may assess the revised manuscript without returning it to reviewers.
Substantial revisions are required. The revised manuscript may be returned to reviewers for further assessment before another decision is made.
The manuscript is considered unsuitable for publication based on its scope, quality, contribution, methodological limitations, ethical concerns, or the outcome of peer review.
Review Criteria
Reviewers are encouraged to consider the following aspects when evaluating a manuscript:
- relevance to the Focus and Scope of FOKBIS;
- originality and significance of the research problem;
- clarity of the research objectives or questions;
- theoretical or conceptual foundation;
- appropriateness and rigor of the research methodology;
- quality and transparency of data analysis;
- interpretation and discussion of findings;
- theoretical, empirical, methodological, or practical contribution;
- quality and relevance of references;
- clarity, organization, and scholarly presentation;
- compliance with research and publication ethics.
Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest
Manuscripts under review are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not disclose, share, reproduce, or use unpublished information contained in a manuscript for personal or professional advantage.
Reviewers should decline a review invitation when a financial, professional, institutional, personal, or other relationship may compromise—or reasonably be perceived to compromise— their impartiality. Editors are likewise expected to avoid handling manuscripts where a relevant conflict of interest exists.
Editorial decisions are based on academic merit, relevance, research quality, ethical considerations, and reviewer assessments. Decisions should not be influenced by the authors' institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, personal relationships, or other factors unrelated to the scholarly quality of the manuscript.
When a manuscript is submitted by an editor, editorial board member, or another individual with a potential editorial conflict, the manuscript should be assigned to another qualified editor who has no conflict of interest. The submitting editor must not participate in reviewer selection, peer-review communication, or the final editorial decision concerning that manuscript.
