Before You Start
If you have any queries regarding the status of your paper pre-decision, please reach out to the Editor or Journal Editorial Office. For queries post-acceptance, please contact the Supplier Project Manager. You can find their contact details in the Editorial Team section.
Author Responsibilities
At Management, our goal is to provide you with a professional and courteous experience throughout the review and publication process. However, there are certain responsibilities that rest with you as the author. We expect you to:
- Respond promptly to any queries during the publication process.
- Be accountable for all aspects of your work, including resolving any questions about accuracy or research integrity.
- Treat communications between you and the journal editor as confidential until an editorial decision has been made.
- Adhere to our research ethics for authorship. This means including anyone who has made a substantial and meaningful contribution to the submission (with others involved listed in the acknowledgements). It also means excluding anyone who hasn’t contributed or who has chosen not to be associated with the research. Lastly, according to COPE’s position statement on AI tools, Large Language Models cannot be credited with authorship as they lack the ability to conceptualize a research design without human direction and cannot be held accountable for the integrity, originality, and validity of the published work.
- If your article involves human participants, ensure that you have considered whether ethical approval is required for your research and include this information as part of your submission. Please familiarize yourself with informed consent.
Research and Publishing Ethics
At Management, we strive to ensure that the content we publish adheres to ethical standards. To accomplish this, we closely follow the guidelines and flowcharts provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We have also developed our own research and publishing ethics guidelines, which we strongly recommend you read in order to avoid common publishing ethics issues.
Here are a few key points to consider:
- Your manuscript should be original and not have been published before in its current or similar form. If any substantial element of your paper has been previously published, please declare this to the journal editor upon submission. Please note that the journal editor may use Crossref Similarity Check to verify the originality of submissions.
- Your work should not be under consideration by any other publication or have been submitted elsewhere.
- If you have a conflict of interest, you must declare it upon submission. This allows the editor to decide how to proceed. Refer to our research and publishing ethics guidelines for more information.
- By submitting your work to Management, you guarantee that it does not infringe on any existing copyright.
Third Party Copyright Permissions
Before submitting your article, ensure that you have obtained written permission to use any material created by a third party. We cannot publish any article that is still pending permissions. The necessary rights we require are:
- Non-exclusive rights to reproduce the material in the article or book chapter.
- Print and electronic rights.
- Worldwide English-language rights.
- The ability to use the material for the life of the work, without any time restrictions on its reuse.
As a member of the International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers (STM), we participate in the STM permissions guidelines, which facilitate the free exchange of material with other STM publishers. In some cases, this may mean that you don’t need permission to reuse content. If this applies to your submission, please indicate it during the submission process.
To ensure that you have met all the requirements, please read our guide to publishing permissions carefully so that we can process your submission without delay.
Open Access Submissions and Information
All of our journals offer two routes for open access publishing: gold open access and green open access.
If you want to make the branded publisher PDF (version of record) freely available immediately upon publication, you can choose the gold open access route once your paper is accepted. However, this requires payment of the article processing charge (APC), the amount of which can be found on our APC price list or on the editorial system during submission. Your article will be published with a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 user license, which explains how readers can reuse your work.
Alternatively, if you want to publish open access but your funding does not cover the APC, you can choose the green open access, or self-archiving, route. This allows you to make the author accepted manuscript (the version accepted for publication) openly available without payment or embargo periods.
For more information on our open access routes, APCs, and waivers, as well as frequently asked questions, please visit our open research page.
Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines
At Management, we are committed to the reproducibility of research through the adoption of transparent research practices. Therefore, we encourage you to:
- Cite and fully reference all data, program code, and other methods used in your article.
- Include persistent identifiers, such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), for datasets and program codes.
- Follow appropriate procedures regarding data protection, privacy rights, and ethical considerations when citing data. Refer to our research and publishing ethics guidelines for further guidance on citing datasets.
Prepare Your Submission
Manuscript Support Services
We are pleased to partner with Editage, a platform that connects you with relevant experts for language support, translation, editing, visuals, consulting, and more. If you feel you need additional support, you can work with Editage to enhance your manuscript and make it submission-ready. Please note that using this service does not guarantee acceptance for review or publication.
Visit Editage
Manuscript Requirements
Before submitting your manuscript, it is important to read and follow the guidelines below. You will find additional tips in our “Structure Your Journal Submission” guide.
Format
Article files should be provided in Microsoft Word format. While you can also submit a PDF of the document, PDFs alone are not acceptable. If you prefer to use LaTeX, please provide an accompanying PDF document. Acceptable figure file types are listed below.
Article Length / Word Count
Articles should be between 7,500 and 8,500 words in length. This includes all text, such as the structured abstract, references, text in tables, figures, and appendices. Please allocate 280 words for each figure or table.
Article Title
Provide a concise and engaging title for your article.
Author Details
Add the names of all contributing authors to the ScholarOne submission, listing them in the order you would like them to be published. Each author should have their own ScholarOne author account. The following details will be extracted from each account:
- Author email address (preferably institutional)
- Author name (including middle names/initials, if desired)
- Author affiliation (based on where the research was conducted)
In multi-authored papers, it is important to list all authors who have made a significant contribution to the paper. Individuals who have provided support but have not contributed to the research should be acknowledged separately. Do not include individuals who have not contributed or do not want to be associated with the research. Review our research ethics for authorship for more information.
Biographies and Acknowledgements
If you would like to include author biographies and acknowledgements, save them in a separate Microsoft Word document and upload the file with your submission. Each named author should provide a brief professional biography of no more than 100 words.
Research Funding
Your article must reference all sources of external research funding in the acknowledgements section. Describe the role of the funder or financial sponsor in the entire research process, from study design to submission.
Structured Abstract
Include a structured abstract in your submission, following the format outlined below. The abstract should consist of four required subheadings and their explanations:
- Purpose
- Design/methodology/approach
- Findings
- Originality
You may also include three optional subheadings, if applicable:
- Research limitations/implications
- Practical implications
- Social implications
The maximum length of the abstract, including keywords and article classification, should be 250 words.
Keywords
Include up to 12 appropriate and concise keywords that capture the principal topics of your paper. Refer to our “Creating an SEO-Friendly Manuscript” guide for guidance on selecting search-engine friendly keywords. Please note that while we will try to use the keywords you suggest, our in-house editorial team may replace some of them to ensure consistency across publications and improve the visibility of your article.
Article Classification
During the submission process, you will be asked to select a type and category for your paper. Refer to the options provided and choose the best fit for your article.
Headings
Use concise headings with clear indications of hierarchy. First-level headings should be in bold, and subsequent subheadings should be in medium italics.
Notes/Endnotes
Use notes or endnotes only if absolutely necessary. Identify them in the text with consecutive numbers enclosed in square brackets, then list and explain the numbers at the end of the article.
Figures
Submit all figures (charts, diagrams, line drawings, webpages/screenshots, and photographic images) electronically. Both color and black and white files are accepted. Ensure that figures are of the highest resolution/quality possible, with legible numbers and text. Acceptable formats include .ai, .eps, .jpeg, .bmp, and .tif. For electronic figures created in other applications, either copy and paste them into a blank MS Word document or submit them as a PDF file. Number all figures consecutively with Arabic numerals and provide clear captions. Photographs should be numbered as Plate 1, 2, 3, etc., with accompanying captions that include appropriate credit or attribution.
Tables
Type and submit tables in a separate file from the main body of the article. Label the position of each table clearly in the main text, with corresponding labels in the table file. Number tables consecutively in Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, etc.). Give each table a brief title, and ensure that superscripts or asterisks are explained as footnotes.
Supplementary Files
If you have supplementary material such as tables, figures, appendices, or other additional content that is not critical to the reader’s understanding of the article, you can choose to host these files on Insight, Emerald’s content hosting platform, or on an institutional or personal repository. Please submit all supplementary material before acceptance. When hosting supplementary files on Insight, clearly label them as supplementary and provide the filename without including the content. A link to the supplementary material will be added during production. If you choose to use an institutional or personal repository, ensure that the supplementary material is hosted there before submission and include a link to the repository in your article.
References
Format all references in your manuscript using one of the recognized Harvard styles. You can use the Harvard style that Emerald has adopted, or a different Harvard style if preferred (our typesetters will make the necessary adjustments). Ensure that your citations are complete, accurate, and consistent. Refer to our guidelines for Emerald’s Harvard referencing style for detailed formatting instructions.
Submit Your Manuscript
To ensure a smooth and trouble-free submission, follow these key steps:
Double Check Your Manuscript
Before submitting your work, ensure that your manuscript is complete, grammatically correct, and free of spelling or typographical errors. Double-check the following:
- Review the aims and scope of the journal to verify that your manuscript is a good fit.
- Confirm that your manuscript complies with our research and publishing ethics guidelines.
- Obtain any necessary publishing permissions.
- Follow all formatting requirements outlined in these author guidelines.
- Exclude any information that could reveal your identity to reviewers, as this could compromise the anonymous peer review process.
For additional assistance, consult the submission checklist provided on the Think.Check.Submit website.
The Submission Process
All manuscripts should be submitted through our editorial system by the corresponding author. If you are submitting to this journal for the first time, select the “Create an account” or “Register now” option. If you already have an Emerald login, you can use your existing username and password. Remember that your username is the email address used to set up your account. Don’t forget to include your ORCiD ID during the submission process.
If you have any questions or need guidance, visit the ScholarOne support center.
What to Expect Next
After submitting your manuscript, you will receive an automated email confirming the successful submission. It will provide you with a manuscript number, which will be used for all future correspondence regarding your submission. If you suspect that the confirmation email may be fraudulent, please contact our Rights team.
Post Submission
Review and Decision Process
Each submission is carefully reviewed by the editor, who may choose to decline or unsubmit your manuscript if it does not fit the journal’s aims and scope or if the language/manuscript quality is too low. If the editor believes your manuscript is suitable for publication, it will be sent to at least two independent referees for double anonymous peer review. Based on the reviewers’ feedback, the editor will make a decision to accept your manuscript, request revisions, or decline the submission.
While the timeline may vary among journals, we aim to provide you with the editor’s initial decision within 60 days. Throughout this period, you will receive automated updates on the progress of your manuscript through our submission system. You can also log in to check the current status of your paper. Please ensure that any emails related to your submission quote the manuscript number provided during submission. If you receive an email that does not match these criteria, it may be fraudulent. In such cases, please contact our Rights team.
If Your Submission is Accepted
Once your paper is accepted, you will be given the option to publish it through the gold open access route, which requires payment of the article processing charge (APC), the amount of which can be found on our APC price list or on the editorial system during submission. Alternatively, if your funding does not cover the APC, you can choose the green open access route, which allows you to make the author accepted manuscript openly available without payment or embargo periods.
You will also receive an email with a link to a license form. Please review the form to ensure accuracy and make any necessary updates before submitting it electronically. If you are unable to assign copyright to us for any reason, please discuss it with your journal content editor.
After receiving your completed license form, we will move your article into the production process. We will carry out editorial checks, copyediting, and typesetting, and then send you (as the corresponding author) the proof for review. This is your opportunity to correct any typographical or author details errors. We cannot accept requests to rewrite the text at this stage.
Once the page proofs are finalized, the fully typeset and proofed version of your article will be published online as the EarlyCite version. Although it has not been assigned to a specific volume or issue, it has a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and is fully citable. Eventually, your article will be compiled into an issue based on the journal’s publication schedule.
Sharing Your Paper
Visit our author rights page to learn about how you can reuse and share your work. Additionally, read our guide on how to promote your work for tips on increasing the visibility of your published paper.
Correcting Inaccuracies
In case of errors during the research, writing, or publishing processes, we have the option to introduce a correction notice or withdraw the paper. For more information, refer to our article withdrawal and correction policies. If you need to make a change to the list of authors, consult our frequently asked questions (FAQs) section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a submission fee for the journal?
The only time we will ask for payment to publish in an Emerald journal is if you choose the gold open access route. In that case, you will be required to pay an article processing charge (APC) after your paper is accepted. We never ask for financial contributions at any other stage of publication. If you receive an email requesting payment for publishing and you have not chosen gold open access, please contact our Rights team.
How can I become a reviewer for the journal?
To become a reviewer, please send a copy of your CV to the journal editor. You will find the editor’s contact details on the editorial team tab.
Who do I contact to find out which volume and issue my accepted paper will appear in?
Papers are typically added to an issue based on their publication date. If you would like to know in advance which issue your paper will belong to, please contact the journal’s content editor. You will find their contact details on the editorial team tab. Once your paper is published in an issue, you will be notified by email.
Who do I contact if I have a query about my submission?
If you have any queries about your submission, please email the journal editor. You will find their contact details on the editorial team tab. If you suspect that an email you have received from Emerald may be fraudulent, please verify it with the content editor or contact our Rights team.
Is my paper suitable for the journal?
If you are unsure whether your paper is suitable for the journal after reading the aims and scope, please email the editor with your paper’s title and structured abstract. The editor will advise you on the manuscript’s suitability. You will find their contact details on the editorial team tab.
How do I make a change to the list of authors once the manuscript has been submitted?
Authorship and the order of authors should be agreed upon before submission. We have a right-first-time policy and cannot make changes to the author list after submission. If you made an error during the submission process, please email the Journal Editorial Office, providing the manuscript number. You will find their contact details on the editorial team tab.