Focus and Scope
A peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Management Study Program, Muhammadiyah University of Lampung. This journal provides a publication platform for academics, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Section Policies
Articles
 Open Submissions |
Indexed |
Peer Reviewed |
Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to SMILE (Scientific Management, Innovation, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship) Journal undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality, originality, relevance, and scientific contribution of published articles. The journal is committed to maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and fairness throughout the editorial and review process.
1. Initial Editorial Screening
All submitted manuscripts are initially screened by the editorial team to determine their suitability for the journal. The screening process includes an assessment of:
Relevance to the journal's focus and scope;
Compliance with the journal's author guidelines and manuscript format;
Originality and academic significance of the manuscript;
Clarity of the research objectives and contribution;
General quality of academic writing and presentation; and
Compliance with publication ethics and research integrity standards.
Manuscripts that do not meet the journal's basic requirements or fall outside the journal's scope may be rejected at this stage without external peer review.
2. Peer Review Process
Manuscripts that successfully pass the initial editorial screening will be forwarded to at least two independent reviewers who have relevant expertise in the subject area of the manuscript.
SMILE Journal applies a double-blind peer-review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed from each other during the review process. This mechanism is intended to minimize potential bias and ensure that manuscripts are evaluated primarily on their academic and scientific merit.
Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based evaluations and recommendations.
3. Review Criteria
Reviewers are requested to evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria:
Originality and novelty of the research;
Relevance to the fields of management, innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and related disciplines;
Clarity and significance of the research problem and objectives;
Adequacy of the theoretical or conceptual framework;
Appropriateness and rigor of the research methodology;
Accuracy and clarity of data analysis and presentation of results;
Quality and depth of the discussion;
Contribution to theory, practice, management, leadership, entrepreneurship, or policy;
Relevance and adequacy of references;
Organization, clarity, and academic quality of the manuscript; and
Compliance with ethical standards and principles of academic integrity.
4. Review Period
Reviewers are normally expected to complete their review within 2–4 weeks after accepting the review invitation. The actual review period may vary depending on the complexity of the manuscript, reviewer availability, and the extent of revisions required.
Authors are expected to submit revised manuscripts within the period specified by the editorial team. When submitting a revised manuscript, authors should provide a clear response to reviewers explaining how each comment or recommendation has been addressed.
5. Editorial Decision
Based on the reviewers' reports and recommendations, the editorial team may make one of the following decisions:
Accept Submission – the manuscript is accepted for publication;
Revisions Required / Minor Revision – the manuscript requires limited revisions before acceptance;
Resubmit for Review / Major Revision – substantial revisions are required and the manuscript may undergo another round of peer review; or
Decline Submission – the manuscript does not meet the journal's publication standards or is not suitable for publication.
The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, taking into consideration the reviewers' recommendations, scientific quality, ethical standards, and relevance to the journal's focus and scope.
In cases where reviewers provide substantially conflicting recommendations, the Editor may appoint an additional reviewer or conduct further editorial assessment before making the final decision.
6. Reviewer Selection and Recruitment
Reviewers are selected based on their academic qualifications, research expertise, publication record, and relevance to the subject matter of the manuscript. Reviewers may be drawn from universities, research institutions, professional organizations, or other relevant academic and professional communities.
Reviewers should:
Possess appropriate expertise in the field relevant to the manuscript;
Have sufficient academic or professional experience to evaluate the manuscript;
Have no conflict of interest with the authors, institutions, or research being evaluated;
Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and review materials;
Provide objective, constructive, and academically responsible comments; and
Complete the review within the agreed timeframe.
The editorial team seeks to continuously expand and diversify the reviewer pool by involving qualified scholars and experts from different institutions and, where appropriate, different countries.
7. Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, distribute, reproduce, discuss, or use unpublished information contained in manuscripts for personal or professional advantage.
Reviewers must immediately inform the editorial team if they identify any actual or potential conflict of interest that could affect their objectivity. In such cases, the reviewer may be replaced by another qualified reviewer.
8. Publication Ethics
The peer-review process of SMILE Journal is conducted according to internationally recognized principles of scholarly publishing ethics. Editors, reviewers, and authors are expected to uphold the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, academic integrity, transparency, and responsible research conduct.
Any indication of plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate publication, inappropriate authorship, or other forms of research misconduct identified during the editorial or peer-review process will be investigated by the editorial team. Appropriate editorial action will be taken according to the nature and severity of the issue.
9. Review and Publication Frequency
SMILE (Scientific Management, Innovation, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship) Journal is published twice a year (semiannually). The editorial and peer-review process is managed according to the journal's publication schedule while maintaining the quality and integrity of the review process.
Open Access Policy
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.