Sri Balaji Societys The Balajian Journal of Management Research

Author Guidelines for Submission

Sri Balaji University, Pune

Sri Balaji Societys The Balajian Journal of Management Research

ISSN: 3049-317X (Online)

Publisher: Sri Balaji University, Pune

Editorial Contact: editor@sbup.edu.in

1. Aims and Scope

The Balajian Journal of Management Research is a double-blind, peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to publishing high-quality, impactful research across all disciplines of management and business administration. Our objective is to bridge the gap between management theory and practice by providing a rigorous platform for scholarly discourse, innovative conceptual frameworks, and data-driven insights.

2. Thematic Areas

We welcome original submissions that contribute to theory, practice, and policy in the following core domains:

• Marketing Management and Consumer Behavior

• Financial Management and Accounting

• Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior

• Operations, Supply Chain, and Logistics

• Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship

• Information Technology and Business Analytics

• More allied areas intersecting with business, economics, public policy, and contemporary management challenges.

3. Types of Contributions and Submission Criteria

To ensure clarity and standardization during the peer-review process, all submissions must clearly indicate their manuscript type.

A. Empirical Research Papers

• Description: Original research papers presenting significant and novel findings related to management research. Must be grounded in robust qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method methodologies.

• Word Count: 6000-8000 words.

• Required Structure: Title, Author details, Abstract (max 250-300 words) and 4-6 Keywords, Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results and Discussions, Conclusion, Research & Managerial Implications, Scope for Future Research, Limitations of the Study, References

B. Systematic Literature Reviews (SLR) & Bibliometric Analyses

• Description: Rigorous, reproducible reviews of existing literature that synthesize current knowledge, identify research gaps, and propose robust future research agendas.

• Word Count: Up to 6000 words.

• Required Structure: Title, Abstract (max 250-300 words) and 4-6 Keywords, Introduction, Literature Review (including review protocol and search criteria), Research Methodology, Discussion and Analysis, Conclusion, References.

C. Conceptual Papers

• Description: Theory-building articles that integrate existing literature to propose new theoretical frameworks, paradigms, or models, without necessarily utilizing primary empirical data.

• Word Count: 6000-8000 words.

• Required Structure: Follows a standard academic structure tailored to theory-building (similar to Empirical, omitting empirical data analysis).

D. Perspective Articles

• Description: Opinion-based articles offering critical viewpoints on current industry trends, emerging technologies, or management practices.

• Word Count: 1000-3000 words.

• Required Structure: The title must include the phrase "a perspective article". Must include a 1-paragraph introduction, 2-3 paragraphs summarizing past research/practice, 2-3 paragraphs on future research agendas, a 1-paragraph conclusion, and at least 1 author-created figure or table. Minimum of 3-5 references.

E. Case Studies (Management Cases & Monographs)

• Description: Real-world business scenarios or detailed monographs designed for academic discussion, strategic analysis, or practical problem-solving.

• Word Count: 6000-8000 words.

• Required Structure: Title, Abstract (max 250-300 words) and 4-6 Keywords, Introduction, Case Description, Analysis, Discussion, Conclusion, References.

(Note: Submission of a comprehensive Teaching Note/Instructor's Manual as a supplementary file is highly encouraged.)

F. Book Reviews

• Description: Critical evaluations of recently published academic books or influential practitioner literature relevant to the management field.

• Word Count: 800-1200 words.

• Required Structure: Title, Author and Book Information, Introduction, Summary, Critical Evaluation, Recommendation, Conclusion. Max 100-word abstract and 4-5 keywords.

G. PhD Synopses / Extended Abstracts

• Description: Summaries of recently awarded or submitted doctoral dissertations highlighting emerging scholars and fresh, unpublished research avenues.

• Word Count: 1500-2500 words.

• Required Structure: Must concisely cover the research problem, hypotheses/objectives, core methodology, key findings, and managerial implications.

4. Research and Publishing Ethics

The Balajian Journal of Management Research (BJMR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. Authors must ensure strict adherence to the following:

• Originality and Plagiarism: The submitted manuscript must be original and should not have been previously published in its current or similar form. Manuscripts will undergo rigorous similarity checks prior to peer review.

• Generative AI Policy: The use of generative AI tools or LLMs to copywrite any part of an article, explicitly including the abstract and literature review, is not permissible. AI may only be utilized for basic language editing, which must be clearly declared in the acknowledgements.

• Third-Party Copyrights: Ensure you have obtained written permission to use any third-party material included in your manuscript.

• Data Integrity: All data, program code, and methods mentioned in your article must be appropriately cited and fully referenced.

5. Manuscript Submission Process

• Submission Portal: Submit your manuscript online to editor@sbup.edu.in.

• Author Declarations: By submitting your manuscript, you confirm that the work is original, not under consideration elsewhere, and has been approved by all co-authors and relevant authorities. Authors are encouraged to declare any conflicts of interest.

• Copyright and Liability: After acceptance, the copyright form must be completed and submitted before finalizing the submission. The publisher holds no legal responsibility for claims of compensation related to published content.

6. Manuscript Structure (Double-Blind Peer Review Format)

To facilitate a double-blind peer-review process, authors must separate their submission into two distinct files: a Cover Page and an Anonymized Main Manuscript.

A. The Cover Page Manuscripts should include a cover page with:

• Article title.

• Author/s' names and designations.

• Phone numbers.

• Email addresses.

• Corresponding author's name for communication.

B. The Anonymized Main Manuscript: Submit a single MS Word file that strictly avoids any author-identifying information. The document must flow in the following order:

1. Title of the Article

2. Abstract (max 250-300 words) and 4-6 Keywords. The abstract should succinctly summarize the entire paper in 250-300 words or less.

3. Introduction

4. Literature Review

5. Research Methodology

6. Results and Discussions

7. Conclusion

8. Research & Managerial Implications

9. Scope for Future Research

10. Limitations of the Study

11. References

7. Typography and Formatting Guidelines

• General Layout: Text must be set in 12-point 'Times New Roman Font' (Unbolted, non-italics). Use double line spacing and maintain 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides.

• Heading Hierarchy:

• Main Headings: 12-point 'Times New Roman Bold Font (Uppercase)' with Roman numbering (I, II, III, IV, ...).

• First-level Sub Headings: 12-point 'Times New Roman Bold Font (Capitalize Each Word)' with capital alphabet numbering (A, B, C, ...).

• Second-level Sub Headings: 12-point 'Times New Roman Bold Italics Font (Capitalize Each Word)' with small alphabet numbering (a, b, c, ...).

8. Tables, Figures, and Visual Elements

• Number and cite tables, figures, and images separately within the text.

• Sources for tables, figures, and images should be mentioned explicitly below the respective item.

9. Citation and Referencing Style (APA 7th Edition)

BJMR strictly follows the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style. Every reference cited in the text must appear in the final reference list, and vice versa.

In-Text Citations:

• Single author: (Kumar, 2023)

• Two authors: (Sharma & Singh, 2023)

• Three or more authors: (Patel et al., 2023)

Reference List Examples:

• Journal Article: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), Page range. https://doi.org/xxxx

• Authored Book: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher Name.

• Chapter in an Edited Book: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

• Online/Web Document: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Title of document. Website Name. URL

10. The Peer Review Process

BJMR employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the objective evaluation of all submitted manuscripts. The identities of both the authors and the reviewers are kept strictly confidential.

• Initial Desk Review: Upon submission, the Editorial Board conducts an initial screening to check for scope alignment, basic formatting, and plagiarism. Manuscripts failing this stage will be returned via a "Desk Reject" without entering formal review.

Timeline: 7-14 Days

• Reviewer Assignment: Manuscripts passing the desk review are assigned to at least two independent, expert reviewers in the relevant subject area.

Timeline: 5-10 days

• Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on originality, methodological rigor, theoretical contribution, clarity of presentation, and relevance to management practice.

Timeline: 3-5 Weeks

• First Editorial Decision: Based on reviewer feedback, the Editor-in-Chief will make one of the following decisions: Accept as is, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. Authors will receive anonymized feedback to help improve their work, regardless of the outcome.

Timeline: 4-6 Weeks

·         Revision by Authors: Authors are required to revise their manuscripts based on the reviewers’ comments and editorial suggestions. All revisions must be clearly addressed through a point-by-point response document, highlighting changes made in the manuscript. Failure to adequately address reviewer comments may result in rejection.

Timeline:
Minor Revision: 1–2 Weeks
Major Revision: 3–5 Weeks

·      Decision Post Revision: Upon resubmission, the revised manuscript is evaluated and, if necessary, may be sent back to the original reviewers for further assessment. Based on the revised submission, the Editor-in-Chief will make the final decision, which may include acceptance, further revision, or rejection.

Timeline: 2–3 Weeks

·        Overall Timeline Summary

11. Authorship and Contributor Roles (CRediT Taxonomy)

To ensure transparency and proper credit, BJMR requires authors to clearly state the specific contributions of each individual involved in the manuscript. All listed authors must have made a significant intellectual contribution. During submission, authors are encouraged to use the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) to describe each author’s specific role, such as:

• Conceptualization, Methodology, Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Writing Original Draft, Writing Review & Editing, Supervision, or Funding Acquisition.

• Changes to Authorship: Any addition, deletion, or rearrangement of author names in the authorship list can only be made before the manuscript has been accepted and must be approved by the journal Editor.

12. Data Availability and Transparency

In alignment with modern open science practices, BJMR encourages authors to share the raw data supporting their research findings. All empirical manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement before the reference list. Examples of acceptable statements include:

• “The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the [Name] repository, [Web Link].”

• “The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.”

• “Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.” (For conceptual papers or SLRs).

13. Copyright, Licensing, and Open Access

• Copyright Transfer: As stated in the submission process, upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'Journal Publishing Agreement'. While authors retain the rights to use their work for teaching and institutional repositories, the formal copyright for commercial distribution is transferred to Sri Balaji University, Pune.

• Article Processing Charges (APCs): Currently, BJMR does not charge any submission fees or Article Processing Charges (APCs). The journal is committed to disseminating high-quality research without financial barriers.

14. Conflicts of Interest and Funding Declarations

Authors must transparently disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could be perceived as inappropriately influencing their work.

• Declaration Requirement: A mandatory “Declaration of Competing Interest” statement must be included at the end of the manuscript (before the references). If no conflict exists, the statement should explicitly read: “The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.”

• Funding: Authors must declare all sources of funding received for the research, including the grant number and funding agency.

15. Editorial Contact and Queries: For any submission-related queries, inquiries about your manuscript's status, or other concerns, please contact the Editor or Journal Editorial Office.

• Phone: 020-66741285

• Email: editor@sbup.edu.in  
  
  

Prof (Dr.) Manisha Paliwal

Head, Research and Development Cell,

Editor, Sri Balaji Societys The Balajian Journal of Management Research,

Sri Balaji University, Pune.