Review Process

The EPH-IJAER (EPH – International Journal of Business and Management) follows a rigorous and transparent peer review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, original, and impactful research. The journal applies a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that the identity of both authors and reviewers remains confidential throughout the evaluation process. This process helps maintain fairness, objectivity, and academic integrity.

1. Manuscript Submission

Authors are required to submit their manuscript through the official submission channel of the journal. Once the manuscript is received, it is registered in the editorial system and forwarded for preliminary checks.

2. Preliminary Editorial Screening

After submission, the manuscript undergoes an initial screening by the editorial office to ensure it meets the journal’s basic requirements. This stage is important to verify whether the submission is suitable for further evaluation.

The preliminary screening includes:

  • Scope relevance and topic suitability

  • Manuscript structure and formatting check

  • Language clarity and academic presentation

  • Completeness of references and citations

  • Ethical compliance and originality check

  • Similarity / plagiarism screening

Manuscripts that do not meet the minimum standards may be returned for correction or rejected without external review.

3. Editorial Evaluation

After passing the initial screening, the manuscript is assigned to a Handling Editor or an editorial board member with expertise in the relevant subject area. The editor evaluates the manuscript for its academic contribution and research value.

At this stage, the editor may decide to:

  • Forward the manuscript for external peer review

  • Request preliminary revision before review

  • Reject the manuscript if it does not meet publication standards

The editor ensures that the submission aligns with the journal’s objectives and contributes meaningful knowledge to the research community.

4. Double-Blind Peer Review

EPH-IJAER follows a strict double-blind peer review method, where:

  • Reviewers do not know the author(s) identity

  • Author(s) do not know the reviewer(s) identity

The manuscript is sent to two or more independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field. The reviewers provide constructive feedback to improve the manuscript and help the journal maintain its academic quality.

5. Review Desicion and Author Notification

After receiving the reviewers’ reports, the editorial team analyzes the recommendations and communicates the decision to the author along with reviewers’ comments.

The decision may be:

  • Accepted

  • Minor Revision Required

  • Major Revision Required

  • Rejected

Authors are expected to respond to reviewer comments in a professional manner and revise the manuscript accordingly.

6. Final Acceptance & Publication

Once the manuscript meets all reviewer and editorial requirements, it is accepted for publication. After acceptance, the manuscript undergoes final production processes such as:

  • Copyediting and proofreading

  • Formatting as per journal layout

  • Reference and citation verification

  • Final quality check

Authors may be asked to approve the final proof before online publication.

EPH-IJAER maintains strict confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts. Submitted articles are treated as confidential documents and are shared only with the editorial team and assigned reviewers.

Reviewers and editors must declare any conflict of interest. If a conflict exists, the manuscript is reassigned to another qualified reviewer/editor to ensure unbiased evaluation.

EPH-IJAER believes that peer review is the foundation of credible scholarly publishing. The journal ensures that all accepted articles are reviewed fairly, transparently, and ethically, supporting the global academic community with reliable and high-quality research.