Editorial Policies

The International Journal for Leadership and Communication Management (IJLCM) is a journal for academics, researchers, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds who are interested in leadership and communication management.

IJLCM is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal that offers a dedicated interdisciplinary platform for global research encompassing all facets of social studies.

IJLCM focuses on exploring the dynamic intersection of leadership and effective communication in various organisational contexts. This journal serves as a catalyst for fostering innovative research, insightful discussions, and practical applications in these critical domains.

As an international publication, we adhere to a set of robust editorial policies aimed at maintaining the highest standards of excellence and integrity in the research we publish. Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following guidelines to ensure a fair, transparent, and efficient peer-review process.

1. Originality and Plagiarism: IJLCM considers only original and previously unpublished work. Authors must ensure that their submissions are free from plagiarism and appropriately cite the sources of any ideas, data, or content used in their manuscripts.
2. Peer Review Process: All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process, where the identities of both the authors and reviewers remain anonymous. Our expert reviewers evaluate the quality, significance, and validity of the research to provide constructive feedback to authors.
3. Publication Ethics: IJLCM adheres to the highest ethical standards in publishing. Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and obtain the necessary permissions for the use of copyrighted materials. Any form of academic misconduct, including data fabrication or falsification, will be dealt with seriously.
4. Authorship and Contributions: All individuals who have made significant contributions to the research must be listed as co-authors. The corresponding author is responsible for obtaining consent from all co-authors and ensuring that they have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
5. Copyright and Licensing: Upon acceptance, authors grant IJLCM the right to publish their work. The content published in our journal is under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), allowing readers to share and adapt the work, provided proper attribution is given to the authors.
6. Confidentiality: Editors and reviewers must treat all submitted manuscripts with strict confidentiality. They must not disclose any information about the papers to anyone other than the individuals involved in the review process.
7. Corrections and Retractions: IJLCM is committed to rectifying any errors discovered in published articles promptly. If a significant error is found, authors are required to cooperate with the editorial board to correct or retract the article.
8. Appeals and Disputes: Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe there was a misunderstanding or error during the review process. The appeals will be thoroughly assessed by the editorial team.
9. Data Availability and Reproducibility: Authors should provide access to the data supporting their research whenever possible to promote transparency and reproducibility of the findings.
10. Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion: IJLCM values diverse perspectives and promotes an inclusive environment for all authors, reviewers, and readers.

We, at IJLCM, are committed to maintaining these editorial policies to uphold the academic integrity of our journal and foster a community of high-quality research in leadership and communication management. We encourage researchers from all around the globe to submit their innovative work and contribute to the advancement of these vital fields.

At IJLCM, we uphold a stringent and respectful peer review process aimed at ensuring the publication of high-quality manuscripts that significantly contribute to the journal’s core themes. We greatly value the efforts of our authors and reviewers, and it is our responsibility to maintain the highest standards of excellence and integrity in our publications.

1. Administrative Compliance Check: We kindly request authors to adhere to the author guidelines outlined on the journal’s website. Our Journal Administrator conducts a thorough review of all submissions, considering factors such as paper length, language proficiency, diagram format, and referencing style. Should any aspects not meet the specified criteria, we sincerely urge authors to address these issues before resubmitting their manuscripts.

2. Editorial Preliminary Assessment: Our Chief Editor conducts an earnest and comprehensive evaluation of all submitted manuscripts. This preliminary assessment aims to ensure that the content is sufficiently original, scientifically sound and aligns with the journal’s scope. Manuscripts meeting the minimum criteria are thoughtfully managed either by the Chief Editor or assigned to an Associate Editor, who skillfully oversees the subsequent peer review process.

Authors whose manuscripts face rejection at this stage can anticipate receiving constructive feedback within one month of submission.

3. Double-Blind Peer Review: We take pride in maintaining an unbiased and respectful double-blind peer review system, safeguarding the anonymity of both the authors and reviewers throughout and following the review process.

4. Reviewer Selection Process: We endeavour to match manuscripts with reviewers who possess relevant expertise, as detailed in our esteemed reviewer database.

5. Reviewer Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers are esteemed contributors to the journal’s scholarly process. They meticulously evaluate manuscripts on various aspects, such as originality of thought and methodology, methodological robustness, clarity and presentation of results, proper referencing of prior work, adherence to ethical guidelines (particularly concerning plagiarism), and the overall contribution to the advancement of the field.

While language correction does not fall within the peer review process, reviewers are encouraged to suggest improvements pertaining to language and writing style. During the final review phase, our handling Editor may recommend linguistic and stylistic enhancements. In select cases, authors may be requested to conduct a full linguistic and stylistic revision.

6. Review Process Duration: We understand the value of time for our authors and reviewers alike. The typical duration for the first round of review ranges approximately between six weeks to a maximum of three months. In instances of conflicting reviewer evaluations or unexpected delays, we may seek additional expert opinions to ensure a thorough and well-balanced decision-making process. Rarely, in situations where identifying a second suitably experienced reviewer poses challenges, and the received review profoundly satisfies the handling Editor, a decision may be rendered based on one review at the handling Editor’s discretion. The Chief Editor’s final decision, accompanied by reviewer recommendations (often including verbatim comments), is thoughtfully communicated to the author.

7. Final Decision: We sincerely appreciate the expertise and dedication of our reviewers, whose recommendations contribute to the Chief Editor’s ultimate decision to accept or reject the article for publication.

At IJLCM, we hold the responsibility of fostering a positive and professional environment for all involved in our scholarly process. Our commitment to nurturing valuable insights in leadership and communication management is evident through the unwavering dedication of our esteemed reviewers and editorial team.

Annually: August
We send the acceptance certificates soon after the review process is completed.

At the International Journal for Leadership and Communication Management (IJLCM), we firmly believe in the importance of open access to scholarly research. Therefore, our journal adopts an open-access policy, ensuring that all our content is readily available to the public without any barriers or subscription fees. We embrace the principle that unrestricted access to research fosters a more significant global exchange of knowledge and promotes the advancement of science and society as a whole. By providing immediate open access to our publications, we strive to facilitate the widespread dissemination of valuable insights in leadership and communication management, empowering researchers, practitioners, and the general public to engage with cutting-edge research and contribute to the collective growth of these critical fields.

At the IJLCM, we are committed to maintaining high standards of excellence in the publication of scholarly articles. As part of our open-access policy and to cover the costs associated with the peer review process, editorial services, and online hosting, we require authors to pay an article processing fee of $150 per article.

It is essential to clarify that this fee applies only once the article has successfully passed the rigorous peer review process and has been accepted for publication in the journal. The article processing fee is due right before the final submission and verification stage by IJLCM.

We understand the value of your research and the efforts put forth by authors, and therefore, we strive to keep the processing fee as reasonable as possible while ensuring the sustainability and quality of the journal. This fee allows us to provide unrestricted open access to your valuable work, ensuring it is accessible to researchers, practitioners, and the global community, fostering a greater exchange of knowledge and ideas.

At IJLCM, we are dedicated to transparency and fairness in all our processes. Therefore, we ensure that authors are informed about the article processing fee well in advance so they can plan accordingly. If they have any questions or concerns regarding the fee or the publication process, we encourage authors to reach out to our editorial team, who will be glad to assist them by email at [email protected].

Please note that the article processing fee is subject to change without prior notice at the board’s discretion. However, the fee will not be changed for articles already under review or in consideration; it will change only for future publications. We will always endeavour to communicate any such changes promptly and provide clear explanations for the adjustments made. Rest assured that any modification to the fee structure will be carefully considered to balance the journal’s sustainability with the interests of our valued authors.

We sincerely appreciate your contributions to the field of leadership and communication management and look forward to showcasing your research in our esteemed journal. Together, we can continue to promote the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of valuable insights that benefit the global academic community.

At the IJLCM by BookEcke, we hold a strong commitment to upholding ethical standards and promoting integrity in all aspects of the publishing process. We adhere to COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors to ensure transparency, fairness, and respect for all parties involved, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

Ethical Guidelines

As a prestigious international publication, the International Journal for Leadership and Communication Management (IJLCM) plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and fostering a reputable network of academic excellence. Peer-reviewed articles serve as a reflection of the author’s work and the institutions supporting them, making it vital to establish clear ethical standards for all stakeholders involved in the publishing process, including authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and society. BookEcke, as the publisher of IJLCM, takes its responsibility seriously in safeguarding integrity and ethical conduct throughout all stages of publishing. We ensure that our editorial decisions are free from any influence of advertising, commercial revenue, or other external factors.

Publication Decisions

The editors of IJLCM are entrusted with the responsibility of deciding which articles merit publication. These decisions are guided by the validation and importance of the work to researchers, practitioners, and readers. The editorial board policies and legal considerations related to libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism also shape the publication decisions. In certain cases, editors may seek input from other editors or reviewers to make well-informed choices.

Screening for Plagiarism

Authors are expected to submit only original and plagiarism-free manuscripts. While it is the author’s duty to ensure this, IJLCM also conducts rigorous plagiarism checks before publication. Our screening process involves checking against offline databases and, whenever possible, online databases.

No Discrimination Policy

At IJLCM, we foster a fair and unbiased evaluation of manuscripts, devoid of any discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors.

Confidentiality

The editors and all editorial staff are bound by confidentiality and must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to unauthorized individuals. This confidentiality extends to the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors must avoid using unpublished material disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without obtaining express written consent from the author.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Contribution

Peer review plays a critical role in editorial decisions, and reviewers’ feedback assists authors in improving the quality of their papers.

Promptness

Reviewers are expected to promptly notify the editors if they feel unqualified to review a manuscript or if timely review is not feasible.

Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential documents and should not share or discuss them with unauthorized individuals.

No Personalisation

Reviews should be conducted objectively, without any personal criticism of the authors. Reviewers are encouraged to express their views clearly, supported by sound arguments.

Potential Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and inform the editors of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and other published papers.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and refrain from using privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review for personal advantage. If reviewers have conflicts of interest related to the authors, companies, or institutions related to the papers, they should decline the review invitation.

Review Process

At IJLCM, every submitted manuscript undergoes an unbiased “double-blind review” by at least two independent reviewers. Editorial decisions regarding publication, amendment, or rejection are based on their evaluations and recommendations. In some cases, a third reviewer may be consulted before making a decision.

Author Responsibilities

Standards

Authors should present accurate accounts of their original research and provide objective discussions of its significance. All underlying data should be represented accurately, and fraudulent or inaccurate statements are considered unethical and unacceptable.

Originality

Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and any use of others’ work is appropriately cited or quoted.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not engage in multiple, redundant, or concurrent publication practices. This means that you cannot submit the same paper to more than one journal at the same time, and you must not submit it to us if it is under consideration at another journal. It is essential to uphold the principles of academic integrity and avoid any form of duplicate submission, which can lead to serious ethical concerns and compromise the credibility of the research community. Authors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the submission guidelines of each journal and adhere to their respective policies to ensure a fair and transparent publication process. At IJLCM, we prioritize original and unpublished work, and we rely on the authors’ commitment to ethical publishing practices to maintain the integrity of our journal and the broader academic landscape.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Authors should properly acknowledge the work of others that has influenced their research, providing relevant citations.

Authorship of the Paper

Authorship should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the research. All co-authors should be listed, and their approval for the final version of the paper and its submission for publication must be obtained.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest that could potentially influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

Authors are responsible for promptly notifying the journal editor or publisher of any significant errors or inaccuracies discovered in their published work and cooperating with them to correct or retract the paper if necessary. Any fundamental errors identified in the published paper should be reported within seven days of publication. Failure to do so may result in the journal taking down the paper without any compensation. If such errors are discovered by the journal at a later stage or by the author, the journal reserves the right to charge an additional fee of 50% of the prevailing Article Processing Charge (APC) at that time for the necessary corrections.

At IJLCM, we are dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards and fostering a scholarly environment where academic integrity and professionalism are upheld at all times. We value the contributions of our authors, editors, and reviewers in promoting the advancement of knowledge in leadership and communication management.