Editorial Focus

Behind the Scenes: Understanding Our Editorial Focus

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Written by Editorial
 
Summary. As an author, anything you do to simplify the editor's job will help your paper move closer to being sent out for peer review. If your manuscript has issues like incorrect formatting, poor writing, or questionable data, it will negatively impact the editor's decision to forward it for review. By keeping the editor's needs in mind and addressing potential problems, you significantly increase your chances of getting your paper published. Making the editor's job easier is a crucial step on your journey to publication.
The immense pressure to publish in esteemed scientific journals is exceptionally high. Many scientists and researchers around the world compete fiercely to have their manuscripts published, as their research careers often hinge on their success in this endeavor. However, from an editor's perspective, the emphasis is not merely on speed and volume of publications, but on the quality, relevance, and originality of the research. Editors are responsible for ensuring that only well-researched, meticulously written, and significant studies make it to publication. They prioritize contributions that align with the journal's focus and standards, maintaining the integrity and prestige of the journal.
The difference between an author's perspective and an editor's perspective can be likened to that of a chef and a restaurant critic. A chef meticulously prepares a dish, knowing every ingredient, technique, and step that went into creating it. They are deeply invested in the culinary process and the final presentation. A restaurant critic, however, approaches the dish from a different angle. They are not concerned with the detailed cooking process or the chef's intentions. Instead, they focus on the overall dining experience, assessing the taste, presentation, and how well the dish meets the expectations of the restaurant's patrons. Similarly, while authors might be deeply invested in their research, understanding every detail and believing strongly in its importance, journal editors evaluate submissions based on broader criteria such as clarity, relevance, contribution to the field, and potential impact on the journal's readership. Understanding these editorial needs is a crucial step to enhance your manuscript's opportunity to be published.

What Do Our Metrics Reveal?

We receive many more submissions than can be published, and many good proposals are turned down due to limited space and time or because they are too similar to other pieces that have been published. Due to the high volume of submissions, several weeks may be needed to review an unsolicited proposal. If a submission is declined, please don't hesitate to try again with a different idea. However, if multiple rejections have been received, it might indicate that your study or topics are not well-suited to our audience.
Table 1. Editorial Metric
  2021 2022 2023
Submission Received 101 173 147
Submission Declined, Desk 62 133 91
Submission Accepted 39 40 56
Submission Declined, After Review 28 29 42
Submission Published 11 11 14
Acceptance Rate 28% 28% 25%
Rejection Rate, Desk 61% 77% 62%
Rejection Rate, After Review 72% 73% 75%
Table 1 provides a detailed overview of the submission statistics of JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Over these three years, the number of submissions received increased from 101 in 2021 to 173 in 2022, before slightly declining to 147 in 2023. The data shows a high rate of desk rejections, where submissions are declined without peer review. In 2021, 62 submissions were desk rejected, which drastically increased to 133 in 2022, and then decreased to 91 in 2023. The number of submissions accepted remained relatively stable, with 39 accepted in 2021, 40 in 2022, and a notable increase to 56 in 2023. Submissions declined after review also showed an upward trend, from 28 in 2021 to 42 in 2023. Despite these variations, the number of submissions published each year remained fairly consistent, with 11 publications in both 2021 and 2022, and a slight increase to 14 in 2023. The acceptance rate showed a slight decline from 28% in 2021 and 2022 to 25% in 2023. The desk rejection rate peaked at 77% in 2022, compared to 61% in 2021 and 62% in 2023. The rejection rate after review also showed a gradual increase, from 72% in 2021 to 75% in 2023.
The high rate of desk rejections, as shown in the table, can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, many submissions fail to align with the journal's specific scope (or topic) and editorial guidelines, which is crucial for initial consideration. Additionally, The content of some submissions might be too similar to previously published works (lack originality) or do not provide a significant contribution to the field, leading them to the rejection of even well-written and researched proposals. Also, submissions with poor writing quality or inadequate research methodologies are often desk rejected as they do not meet the required standards. Lastly, the increasing volume of submissions has likely led to stricter preliminary evaluations to manage the editorial workload efficiently. Therefore, authors are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review the journal’s scope and submission guidelines to enhance their chances of acceptance. By doing so, they can ensure their work is relevant, original, and well-prepared, thereby improving its likelihood of progressing beyond the desk review stage.
Furthermore, the high rejection rate post-review can be attributed to several critical factors. Firstly, despite passing the initial desk review, many submissions may not withstand the rigorous scrutiny of peer reviewers. Peer reviewers often identify weaknesses in research design, methodology, or analysis that were not apparent in the initial screening. Additionally, some submissions may fail to make a significant theoretical or practical contribution to the field, which is a key criterion for publication. Reviewers also assess the clarity and coherence of the manuscript, and papers that are poorly organized or lack clear, logical argumentation often do not make it through the review process. Moreover, feedback from reviewers might require extensive revisions, and if the authors are unable or unwilling to make the necessary changes within the given timeframe, which often happens, the submission may ultimately be rejected.

Our Global Vision

It has always been the dream of the entire editorial team at JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen to gain prestige and recognition from reputable international indexing organizations. To turn this dream into reality, we stepped out of our comfort zone in 2022 by starting to collaborate with renowned authors/researchers, editors, and reviewers from around the world. This initiative was essential to enhance the journal's image. The figure below illustrates the achievements of JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen from 2019 to 2024, based on an analysis of the Scopus database per June 20th, 2024.
Figure 1. Citation Analysis by Country/Territory (Top 10)
Image Source: Scopus Database
Our citation analysis from the Scopus database per June 20th, 2024, as shown in the bar chart titled "Citation Analysis by Country or Territory (Top 10)," reveals the number of documents from various countries citing JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen. Indonesia leads with 28 documents, highlighting strong local engagement. India and Malaysia follow with 7 documents each, indicating significant interest. Pakistan contributes 5 documents, showing notable involvement. China, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates each have 3 documents, reflecting moderate interest. Bangladesh, Ghana, Poland, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Thailand each contribute 2 documents, demonstrating diverse international readership. Additionally, Croatia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iraq, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam each contribute 1 document, showcasing the journal's global reach and impact.
Figure 2. Citation Analysis by Regional
Image Source: Scopus Database Processed
The treemap chart titled "Citation Analysis by Regional," provides a visually represents the distribution of documents contributing to JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen from various global regions. Southeast Asia dominates the chart, accounting for 48% of the total citation contributions. This region includes countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, with Indonesia being a significant citation contributor. Africa follows with 21% of the documents, highlighting citation contributions from countries like Ghana and South Africa. Europe is the next notable region, contributing 12% of the citation documents from countries including Croatia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, the Russian Federation, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine. West Asia and East Asia both contribute 7% and 8%, with countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates representing West Asia, and China, Hong Kong, and South Korea representing East Asia. South Asia, which includes Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, contributes a smaller citation share of 3%, reflecting a relatively lower engagement. North America, represented solely by Puerto Rico, contributes 1% to the total citation document count.
Figure 3. Citation Analysis by Publication Type
Image Source: Scopus Database
The pie chart titled "Citation Analysis by Publication Type" provides a breakdown of the different types of documents that cite JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen. A significant majority, 85.1%, are articles, indicating that the journal is primarily cited in traditional academic research papers. Conference papers account for 9.0% of the citations, reflecting the journal's relevance in academic conferences and the presentation of research findings. Reviews and book chapters each constitute 3.0% of the citations, showing that the journal's content is also considered valuable for literature reviews and academic books.
Figure 4. Citation Analysis by Subject Area
Image Source: Scopus Database
The pie chart titled "Citation Analysis by Subject Area" illustrates the distribution of citations for JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen across various academic disciplines. Business and Management dominate with 25.5% of the citations, indicating the journal's strong influence in this field. Social Sciences follow with 14.8%, showing a significant engagement with interdisciplinary research that intersects with social contexts. Economics and Econometrics account for 12.8%, highlighting the journal's relevance in economic studies. Computer Science and Decision Sciences each contribute 8.7% to the citations, reflecting the growing intersection of these fields with business research. Engineering represents 5.4%, while both Environmental Science and Psychology contribute 4.7% each, showcasing the journal's interdisciplinary appeal. Energy accounts for 3.4%, and Arts and Humanities, though a smaller portion, still contribute 2.0%. Other subject areas collectively make up 9.4%, indicating a broad and diverse impact of the journal across various academic disciplines.
Our citation analysis from the Scopus database reveals a broad and diverse international engagement with JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen. The data highlights significant contributions from various countries and regions, with a particularly strong presence in Southeast Asia. This widespread citation pattern underscores the journal's global reach and impact, making it a vital resource for researchers in numerous academic disciplines, including Business and Management, Social Sciences, Economics, and more. The variety of publication types citing the journal further attests to its relevance and influence across different scholarly platforms.
We invite authors from around the world to submit their manuscripts to our journal, JEMA: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Akuntansi dan Manajemen, and discover the exceptional care and attention from our dedicated team, committed to enhancing the visibility and impact of your research.