Review Process

Peer Review Process

The International Journal of Leadership and Public Sector Reform (IJLPSR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity through a rigorous, fair, and constructive double-blind peer review process.

  1. Submission and Initial Screening
    Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial assessment by the Editor-in-Chief to ensure it:
  • Falls within the journal's Aims and Scope.
  • Meets basic scholarly standards of originality and quality.
  • Adheres to the journal's formatting and ethical guidelines.
  • Passes a plagiarism check using similarity detection software.
    Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria will be desk-rejected.
  1. Double-Blind Review
    Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to an Associate Editor with relevant expertise. The Associate Editor invites a minimum of two independent, external reviewers. The double-blind process ensures:
  • Author Anonymity: All identifying information about the authors is removed from the manuscript before it is sent to reviewers.
  • Reviewer Anonymity: The identities of the reviewers are kept confidential from the authors throughout the process.
  1. Reviewer Evaluation
    Reviewers are selected based on their expertise in leadership, public administration, policy analysis, governance, and related fields. They are asked to evaluate the manuscript on:
  • Originality and Significance: The contribution to the field of leadership and public sector reform.
  • Methodological Rigor: The appropriateness and soundness of the research approach.
  • Theoretical and Practical Relevance: The connection to existing literature and implications for practice.
  • Clarity and Structure: The organization, clarity of argument, and quality of writing.
    Reviewers provide a recommendation to: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.
  1. Editorial Decision
    The Editor-in-Chief makes a final decision based on the reviewers' reports and the Associate Editor's recommendation. Authors will typically receive a decision within 8-12 weeks of submission. Decisions are:
  • Accept
  • Revisions Required (Minor or Major)
  • Reject
  1. Revision Process
  • Minor Revisions: Authors are given 2-3 weeks to address comments.
  • Major Revisions: Authors are given 4-6 weeks to undertake substantial revisions.
    Revised manuscripts are often sent back to the original reviewers for re-evaluation.
  1. Final Acceptance and Publication
    Once accepted, manuscripts undergo copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading. Authors are required to approve the final proofs before publication.
  2. Ethics and Integrity
    IJLPSR adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality, declare conflicts of interest, and provide objective, constructive feedback.