Peer Review Process

Digital Business and Innovation Journal (DIBI) employs a rigorous Double-Blind Peer Review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, original, and scientifically sound research. Under this model, the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process to promote impartiality, fairness, and academic integrity.

The journal is committed to providing a transparent, objective, and timely peer-review process in accordance with internationally recognized standards of scholarly publishing.

1. Manuscript Submission

Authors submit manuscripts through the DIBI Online Journal System (OJS). Submitted manuscripts must:

  • fall within the journal's Focus and Scope;
  • follow the official DIBI manuscript template;
  • comply with the Author Guidelines;
  • meet publication ethics requirements; and
  • not be under consideration by another journal.

2. Initial Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Office conducts a preliminary evaluation to determine whether the manuscript:

  • fits the journal's focus and scope;
  • demonstrates sufficient scientific quality and originality;
  • complies with formatting and submission requirements;
  • contains complete metadata and references; and
  • satisfies ethical and publication standards.

Manuscripts that fail to meet these criteria may be desk rejected without external peer review.

3. Similarity Check

All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening using professional similarity detection software.

As a general guideline:

  • Similarity Index should not exceed 20% (excluding references, properly quoted text, and standard methodological descriptions).

Manuscripts with evidence of plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research practices will be rejected.

4. Double-Blind Peer Review

Manuscripts passing the initial assessment are assigned to at least two independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript.

Neither the reviewers nor the authors are informed of each other's identities during the review process.

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria:

  • Originality and novelty
  • Relevance to digital business and business innovation
  • Scientific significance
  • Theoretical contribution
  • Research methodology
  • Data quality and analytical rigor
  • Validity of findings
  • Practical and managerial implications
  • Quality of writing and presentation
  • Adequacy of references

5. Editorial Decision

Based on reviewers' recommendations, the Editor may issue one of the following decisions:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

The Editor may also consult additional reviewers when necessary.

6. Revision Process

Authors receiving a revision decision are required to submit:

  • a revised manuscript; and
  • a detailed response letter explaining how each reviewer comment has been addressed.

Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation.

7. Final Decision

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final publication decision after considering:

  • reviewers' recommendations;
  • scientific quality;
  • originality;
  • ethical compliance; and
  • suitability for publication in DIBI.

The Editor-in-Chief's decision is final.

8. Production and Publication

Accepted manuscripts proceed through the following production stages:

  • Copyediting
  • Language Editing (if necessary)
  • Layout Editing
  • Proofreading
  • Author Proof Approval
  • Online Publication

Articles are published immediately upon completion of the production process according to the journal's publication schedule.

Estimated Review Timeline

Stage Estimated Duration
Initial Editorial Assessment 1–2 weeks
Similarity Screening Within the editorial assessment
Double-Blind Peer Review 3–6 weeks
Author Revision 1–4 weeks
Final Editorial Decision Approximately 1 week
Production and Publication 1–2 weeks

The review timeline may vary depending on reviewer availability and the extent of revisions required.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, and constructively;
  • maintain strict confidentiality throughout the review process;
  • declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest;
  • provide clear, evidence-based recommendations;
  • complete reviews within the agreed timeframe; and
  • report suspected plagiarism, ethical misconduct, or research integrity concerns to the Editor.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts:

  • are original and unpublished;
  • are free from plagiarism and data fabrication;
  • accurately report research findings;
  • appropriately acknowledge all sources;
  • disclose any conflicts of interest; and
  • respond professionally to reviewer comments during the revision process.

Confidentiality

All manuscripts submitted to DIBI are treated as confidential documents.

Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff must not disclose, distribute, or use unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts for personal, professional, or commercial purposes.

Publication Ethics

DIBI follows the ethical principles established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects editors, reviewers, and authors to uphold the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and responsible scholarly publishing.

Final Publication Decision

The final decision regarding manuscript publication rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief, who considers reviewer recommendations, editorial evaluations, ethical compliance, scientific quality, originality, and the manuscript's relevance to the journal's focus and scope.