Submissions

Author Guidelines

EDITORIAL POLICY

Business Management Review (BMR) is a semi-annually refereed journal publishing original scholarly research on business and management. BMR is intended to foster research from a variety of business-related disciplines. It is open to, and indeed encourages, a wide range of topical issues and emerging methods, conceptual approaches, and substantive problem areas within the domain of business and management. It is devoted to the improvement and further development of theories and practices of business and it is designed to appeal to academics, practising managers and policy makers.

Articles submitted for publication must conform to "BMR Authors ' Guidelines" attached. Full papers and copies of BMR can be obtained from the Chief Editor, BMR, University of Dar es Salaam Business School, P.O. Box 35046 Dar es Salaam, or email: randp@udbs.udsm.ac.tz. Papers published in BMR are also available online at http://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/bmr/index

Review process and procedure of publication of articles in the BMR

1. Manuscript Submission Requirements

• Submission Platform: All manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the journal’s submission platform:  https://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/bmr/index
• Submissions through the journal email will no longer be processed.
• Language: Submissions should be in English
• Originality & Plagiarism: Submissions must be original, unpublished work and not under consideration elsewhere. Plagiarism checks will be performed, and manuscripts exceeding a 20% similarity index will be rejected.
• Peer Review Process: The journal operates a double-blind peer review process, where both reviewers and authors are anonymous. Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are prepared in a way that does not reveal their identity. The author information page should be submitted separately from the main text manuscript. The average review period is 10-12 weeks.

2. Manuscript Preparation

• File Formats: Manuscripts must be submitted as Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files. PDF files are not accepted.
• Manuscript Length: Articles should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including references, footnotes, tables, and figures. Manuscripts exceeding this limit will be returned for revision before review.
• Document Layout:
  • Font: Use Calisto MT, size 12, for the body text.
  • Spacing: The entire manuscript should be single-spaced, including footnotes and references.
  • Margins: Set margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
  • Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the centre of every page.
  • Headings: Use a consistent heading structure with up to three levels, clearly distinguishing between them:
    • Heading 1 (Bold, Title Case, size 16)
    • Heading 2 (Bold, Italicized, Title Case, size 14)
    • Heading 3 (Bold, Title Case, Size 12)

3. Manuscript Components
   • Title Page: The first page should include:
     • Title of the manuscript (concise, informative, and not exceeding 15 words, size 18, Title Case, Centre alignment)
     • Full names of all authors
     • For each Author, include the following information:
       • Author’s Title (e.g. Professor, Lecturer etc.),
       • Author’s institutional affiliations (which must include the Department, University, Town and Country)
       • Author ORCID where applicable.
     • The corresponding author’s email.
   • Abstract: Provide a structured abstract of 250 words or fewer, clearly stating the research aims, methodology, key findings, implications and significance.
   • Keywords: Include a maximum of 6 keywords that best describe the subject matter of the article. Keywords should be separated by commas.
   • Main Text: Structure the manuscript with clear section headings and follow the typical format:
     • Introduction: Should articulate the research problem, objectives, and significance of the study, referencing key literature.
     • Literature Review: Present a thorough and critical review of existing work in the field. Clearly identify gaps and position your research within this context. o Methodology: Detail the research design, sample size, data collection methods, variable operationalization and analytical techniques. If applicable, provide information on ethical approval for research involving human subjects.
     • Results/Findings: Present the results of the analysis in a clear and logical manner. Use tables and figures where appropriate.
     • Discussion: Interpret the findings, linking them back to the literature review and theoretical framework.
     • Conclusion: Summarize the key contributions, limitations, and directions for future research.
   • Acknowledgments: Acknowledge individuals or organizations that supported the research but did not qualify for authorship.
   • Conflict of Interest Statement: Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the manuscript.

4. Figures, Tables, and Appendices
   • Figures and Tables:
     • Figures and tables should be placed within the text, near where they are first cited.
     • Each table and figure must have a clear title and be numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1).
     • Provide legends for all figures, explaining any symbols or abbreviations used.
     • Figures should be submitted in high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) and in editable formats (e.g., .png, .jpeg).
   • Table Formatting: Tables should be formatted in plain text, avoiding complex formatting, and should not contain any colored text or shading.
   • Appendices: If necessary, appendices may be included. They should be clearly labeled (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B) and referenced in the main text.

5. In-text Citations and References
   • Citation Style: The journal uses APA 7th Edition referencing style. Ensure that all in-text citations correspond to entries in the reference list and vice versa.
   • DOIs and URLs: Provide DOIs for all journal articles where available. For other sources, include a working URL.

6. Review Process

• Initial Screening: Manuscripts will be screened for adherence to submission guidelines, plagiarism, and overall quality. Submissions not meeting these standards will be returned without review.
• Peer Review: Submissions passing initial screening will undergo a double-blind peer review, with at least two expert reviewers assessing the manuscript. Authors will receive feedback within 10-12 weeks.
• Revision and Resubmission: Authors may be asked to revise their manuscripts in response to reviewer comments. Revised submissions must be accompanied by a matrix of point-to-point responses to the reviewers.

7. Copyright and Author Rights
   • Copyright Transfer: Upon acceptance, authors will be asked to sign a Copyright Transfer Agreement, transferring the rights to the journal while retaining the right to reuse the content for personal or educational purposes.
   • Preprint Policy: Authors may share their preprint versions online on institutional repositories or preprint servers before submission.

8. Post-publication Corrections and Retractions
   • Corrections: If an error is identified post-publication, authors are required to notify the editorial office immediately. Corrections will be issued in the next available issue.
   • Retractions: In cases of serious ethical violations or proven misconduct, the journal reserves the right to retract published articles.

Print       ISSN 0856 2253

Online ISSN 2546-213X