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International Journal of Management Research and Innovation

Double-blind review journal

Author Instructions

Overview

All submitted manuscripts in IJMRI are processed through the Manuscript Peer-Review Process (MPRP), a fast, structured, and rigorous double-blind review system. This unified platform enables seamless collaboration among authors, reviewers, editors, and the editorial team throughout the entire manuscript handling and evaluation process.


Submission Checklist

Authors must ensure the following steps are completed before the final submission of a manuscript for peer review:

  • One author must be designated as the **Corresponding Author** and provide complete contact details.
  • Authors should verify that the manuscript aligns with the journal’s **Aims and Scope**.
  • The manuscript must be prepared strictly using the prescribed **MS Word template**.
  • All guidelines must be followed, including Authorship Criteria, Research and Publication Ethics (as per COPE), Manuscript Preparation, Copyright Requirements, Illustrations, Data Policies, and Reference Formatting.
  • The submitting author must confirm and approve the final content of the manuscript.
  • All required files—keywords, figures, and tables (with titles, descriptions, and footnotes)—must be uploaded.
  • The manuscript should undergo thorough spelling and grammar checks.
  • Necessary permissions must be obtained for any copyrighted or reused material.

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Manuscript Submission Process

All manuscripts must be submitted online through www.ijmri.in. The submitting author is fully responsible for the manuscript throughout the submission and peer-review stages, ensuring that:

  • All eligible co-authors are included.
  • Each co-author meets authorship criteria and has approved the final submitted version.

First-time users must register on the portal and verify their email to access the author dashboard. Returning users may log in using their existing credentials, Google account, or ORCID ID.

After successful login, authors can begin the submission process. During submission, authors must provide complete funding information and confirm compliance with all funder requirements.


Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts should be prepared according to the required structure, including:

1. Title Page Information:
  • Manuscript Title and Running Title
  • Author Names and Affiliations
  • Abstract
  • Word Limits
  • Number of Figures and Tables
  • Keywords
2. Author Ethical Responsibilities:

Authors must provide:

  • Supplementary Materials
  • Acknowledgements
  • Author Contribution Statement
  • Conflict of Interest Declaration
  • Data Availability Statement
  • Proper Citations
3. Presentation and Formatting:

Ensure appropriate spacing, margins, page numbering, and adherence to the specified word limit and journal formatting requirements.


Cover Letter

Each manuscript submitted for publication must be accompanied by a concise cover letter. The cover letter should clearly highlight the significance of the research, position it within the existing literature, and justify its relevance to the journal’s scope. It must include the following details:

  1. Journal Name
  2. Manuscript Title
  3. Type of Manuscript
  4. Full Names of All Authors (First, Middle, Last)
  5. Complete Author Affiliations (in proper sequence)
  6. Contact Number and Email ID of the Corresponding Author
  7. ORCID ID and/or Researcher Profile Links
  8. Disclosure regarding the use of AI in the preparation of the manuscript
  9. Declaration of any conflicts of interest and disclosure of funding sources

Title Page Information

The Title Page must include the following details:

  1. Manuscript Title: The title should be concise, specific, and informative, incorporating the primary keywords, formulae, or abbreviations used in the study.
  2. Running Title: A short title not exceeding 40–50 characters.
  3. Author Names: Provide the first and last names of all authors; middle names may also be included.
  4. Corresponding Author Details: The corresponding author, responsible for all communication before and after publication, must provide their full name, address, contact number, and email ID. An updated institutional email and contact number are mandatory as per authorship criteria.
  5. Keywords: Include 3 to 6 relevant keywords for indexing purposes.
  6. Word Count: Provide the total electronic word count of the manuscript.
  7. Tables and Figures: Specify the number of tables and figures included in the manuscript.
  8. Conflict of Interest Statement: Declare any potential conflicts of interest. Refer to the journal’s Conflict of Interest guidelines for details.
  9. Financial Support Statement: Disclose any financial support received for the study or manuscript preparation. See the Financial Disclosure section for more information.
  10. Author Contributions: Clearly describe each author’s contribution to the study—such as conceptualization, methodology, data collection, analysis, writing, or review.

Article Type and Formatting

Manuscripts submitted to the journal must fall under one of the following categories:

  1. Original Research Articles
  2. Review Articles
  3. Case Reports / Case Studies
  4. Letters to the Editor
  5. Short Communications / Commentaries
  6. Editorials / Guest Editorials
  7. Other Relevant Article Types (as specified by the journal)

Original Research Article

Structured Abstracts:

The abstract should provide a clear and accurate summary of the manuscript, reflecting its full content rather than serving as an introduction. It must include only information presented in the main text and should not contain citations. The abstract should be **150–250 words** and organized under the following subheadings:

  1. Background:

    Briefly describe the purpose of the study, essential procedures, major findings, and key conclusions.

  2. Methods:

    Provide a concise description of the primary methods, treatments, or protocols used in the study.

  3. Results:

    Present the key findings in a logical sequence, supported by tables, figures, and text as appropriate.

  4. Conclusion:

    Summarize the main interpretations aligned with the study’s objectives, avoiding broad or unqualified claims.

  5. Keywords:

    Include 3–6 relevant keywords after the abstract. These should be specific to the study and aligned with the subject area.

Introduction

The introduction should present the study within a broad context and emphasize its significance. It must clearly define the purpose of the work, highlight its relevance, and reference key previous studies in the field. The content should remain understandable to readers and researchers who may not be specialists in the specific topic.

Materials and Methods

This section should include information available at the time the study was planned or the protocol was developed.

  • New methods and protocols must be described in sufficient detail to allow replication.
  • Well-established methods may be briefly described and cited appropriately.
  • Specify the name and version of all software used, and provide information on the availability of any computer code referenced in the study.
Results

Provide a clear, concise, and accurate description of all primary and secondary outcomes as presented in the Materials and Methods section.

  • Present results logically using text, tables, charts, and figures.
  • Cite all tables and figures in numerical order and include brief descriptive captions.
  • Use supplementary material when appropriate to present additional or extended findings.
Discussion

Interpret the results in the context of previous research and the original hypotheses. Discuss the implications, significance, and relevance of the findings in the broadest possible context, identifying both strengths and limitations.

Conclusions

Summarize the key findings and their significance. This section should state the overall conclusions of the study and may also highlight potential directions for future research.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledge grants, funding sources, institutional support, and any individuals who contributed to the work. These acknowledgements should appear at the end of the article before the references and may also be included on the title page as a footnote.

A separate section should disclose the use of any AI tools or AI-assisted support.

Authorship Statement

An Authorship Statement is required to clearly outline the contributions, roles, and responsibilities of each author involved in the research. This statement enhances transparency, accountability, and credibility in scholarly publishing.


Review Article

Review articles should be authored by experts who have made significant contributions to the subject area. While the journal invites selected experts to submit reviews, unsolicited review articles are also welcomed. A high-quality review article must focus on a specific topic, issue, or research question and go beyond summarizing existing literature. Instead, it should **interpret, integrate, and critically evaluate** previous studies to present a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge.

Authors should also include a brief summary of their own contributions and experience in the field relevant to the review. Additionally, the manuscript must contain a clear description of the methods used for locating, selecting, extracting, and synthesizing the reviewed data.

Structure:
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Discussion (organized into meaningful subsections with clear and informative subheadings)
  • Conclusion
  • References

Case Report / Case Study

Case reports and case studies should present novel, uncommon, or particularly insightful cases. Submissions must highlight unique diagnostic or therapeutic challenges and provide valuable learning points for readers. The report should contribute meaningfully to existing knowledge by documenting observations that can inform future practice or research.


Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor should address recent developments, current issues, or articles published in the journal within the past year. These letters must focus on a significant aspect of the referenced manuscript and offer clear, concise, and constructive commentary or critique. They should reflect the author’s informed perspective and contribute to scholarly discussion.

Article Type Word Limit
(excluding abstract, references, etc.)
Abstract & Keywords Figures & Tables References
(APA style)
Structure
Original Research Article 2000–4500 words Structured (150–250 words): Background, Aim/Objectives, Materials and Methods, Results, Conclusion
Keywords: 3–10
Up to 8 figures + 8 tables
(300 DPI: JPEG, PNG, TIFF)
8–60 Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References
Review Article 2500–6000 words Unstructured Abstract (150–250 words)
Keywords: 3–10
Up to 8 figures + 8 tables 12–90 Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Discussion (with subheadings), Conclusion, References
Case Report / Case Study 1000–2500 words Unstructured Abstract (≤150 words)
Keywords: 3–8
Up to 15 figures + 8 tables 8–25 Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, Conclusion, References
Letter-to-Editor 250–600 words No abstract Maximum 2 figures or tables 3–8 Free format (concise and focused)
Short Communication / Commentary 600–1500 words Unstructured abstract optional Maximum 2 figures or tables 5–15 Flexible structure
Editorial / Guest Editorial / Others 300–1000 words No abstract Maximum 1 figure or table Optional (≤10) Free format
Additional Mandatory Sections (for all article types where applicable):
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • Funding Source
  • Author Contribution Statement
  • Acknowledgment (including Use of AI, if any)
  • Data Availability Statement (if applicable)
  • Supplementary Materials (if applicable)
All references, figures, and tables must be cited in the main text. Abstract should not contain citations.

Manuscript Formatting

All manuscripts must adhere to the following formatting guidelines:

  • Manuscripts must be submitted only in MS Word format; PDF or other file formats are not accepted.
  • Use a standard font such as Times New Roman, 12-point for all text.
  • Maintain double spacing throughout the document, including the abstract, tables, references, footnotes, and figure legends.
  • Use italics for emphasis where appropriate.
  • Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides.
  • Include page numbers at the bottom of each page.
  • Follow the journal’s reference formatting guidelines, ensuring consistent punctuation.
  • Ensure the manuscript is submitted without track changes or markup.
  • Use the Table function in MS Word to create tables; do not insert tables created in Excel or other spreadsheet software.
  • Save and upload the manuscript in .docx format (MS Word 2007 or later).
Measurement of Units:

All measurements must follow the International System of Units (SI). If alternative units are used, authors must provide their equivalent SI values to maintain clarity and consistency.


Preparation of Figures, Tables, and Artworks

  • All figure and table files must be uploaded as a single ZIP/WinRAR archive, with each file provided in clear, high-resolution format (minimum 300 dpi) and in standard acceptable formats such as TIFF, JPEG, EPS, or PNG.
  • Authors are encouraged to submit colour figures and tables using RGB or CMYK formats.
  • Figures may include photographs, micrographs, graphs, charts, or other visual materials.
  • Every figure, table, and artwork must include a clear caption or heading. For large tables, smaller font sizes may be used to maintain readability.
  • Tables and figures/graphs must be cited in the text in consecutive numerical order. If table abbreviations are used, they should be defined in the table footer.
  • Any previously published material included in figures or tables must be clearly identified, with the source cited at the end of the caption.
  • Authors must carefully review all figures to ensure clarity, accuracy, originality, and the absence of unintended duplications
Supplementary Materials:

Authors must provide details of any supplementary materials submitted with the manuscript, such as figures, tables, spreadsheets, videos, or other files. Each item should be clearly labeled with its type and title, for example: Figure F1: Title, Table T1: Title, etc.

Funding and Acknowledgments:

All forms of administrative, technical, or financial support—including grants, funds, contributions, or in-kind assistance—must be acknowledged in a separate section on the title page.

Author Contributions:

A clear Author Contribution Statement is required. Authors should outline their substantial contributions to the study—including conceptualization, design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, drafting, or revision of the manuscript. Authorship must include only those who have meaningfully contributed to the work.

Data Availability Statement:

Authors must specify where the data supporting their findings can be accessed. This includes links to publicly archived datasets generated or analyzed in the study. If no data were generated or analyzed, this statement may be omitted.

Conflicts of Interest:

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the study, such as employment, consultancy, share ownership, honoraria, or expert testimony. If sponsors had no role in the study design, analysis, or publication decision, this must be stated clearly. If there are no conflicts of interest, authors must explicitly declare this. For further guidance, authors may consult the COPE guidelines on Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests.

Citation:

References and citations included in supplementary materials are permitted, provided they also appear in the main text and are listed in the reference section in proper sequence.


Author Ethical Responsibilities

Authors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of research and publication ethics. This includes ensuring originality of work, proper attribution, accurate reporting of data, and full transparency regarding conflicts of interest, funding sources, and contributions. Authors must confirm that the submitted work has not been published elsewhere (except in the form of an abstract, thesis, or preprint) and is not under consideration by another journal.


Supplementary Materials, Data Submission

The journal is committed to promoting open scientific exchange and supporting authors in adopting best practices for sharing and archiving research data. Authors of published articles are strongly encouraged to make their research data accessible whenever possible.

All guidelines related to data sharing are outlined in the journal’s “Instructions for Authors.” The data-sharing policy requires that, at minimum, the core dataset supporting the results and conclusions of a published study be made publicly available. All shared datasets must be properly cited and comply with the journal’s specific requirements.


References Guide

The journal primarily follows the APA referencing style (7th Edition), with certain allowable exceptions for published and unpublished sources.

How to Cite References
  • References must be listed in the order of appearance or citation sequence in the manuscript.
  • If the same source is cited more than once, use the same reference number.
  • Any citations appearing only in tables, figures, or appendices should be placed at the end of the reference list.
  • Do not include citations in the abstract.
In-text Citations

Use the author–date citation style (APA format), without numbering or superscripts.

Examples:

  • Kumar et al. (2016) found that…
  • (Kumar et al., 2016)
How to Write References
  • List references alphabetically by the first author’s last name.
  • Title the section “References.”
  • Use double spacing and a hanging indent throughout.
  • Include DOIs or URLs whenever available.
Reference Formats with Real Examples

1. Journal Articles (up to 20 authors)
Singh, S. K., & Shukla, R. (2025). Impact of corporate branding on consumer preference and brand loyalty: A comparative study of the personal care segment in the Indian FMCG sector. Journal of Management Research and Analysis, 12(3), 146–151. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jmra.36368.1758701374

Article with more than 20 authors
List the first 19 authors, then add an ellipsis (…) followed by the final author.

Article with an Article Number
Jerrentrup, A., Mueller, T., Glowalla, U., Herder, M., Henrichs, N., Neubauer, A., & Schaefer, J. R. (2018). Teaching medicine with the help of “Dr. House.” PLOS ONE, 13(3), Article e0193972. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193972

2. Book
Jackson, L. M. (2019). The psychology of prejudice: From attitudes to social action (2nd ed.). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000168-000

3. Book Chapter
Aron, L., Botella, M., & Lubart, T. (2019). Culinary arts: Talent and their development. In R. F. Subotnik, P. Olszewski-Kubilius, & F. C. Worrell (Eds.), The psychology of high performance (pp. 345–359). American Psychological Association.

4. E-Book
Svendsen, S., & Løber, L. (2020). The big picture/Academic writing: The one-hour guide (3rd digital ed.). Hans Reitzel Forlag. https://thebigpicture-academicwriting.digi.hansreitzel.dk/

5. Conference Proceeding Papers
Duckworth, A. L., Quirk, A., Gallop, R., Hoyle, R. H., Kelly, D. R., & Matthews, M. D. (2019). Cognitive and noncognitive predictors of success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 116(47), 23499–23504. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910510116

6. Newspaper Articles
Coronavirus in India live updates: Delhi reports 57 new cases, zero deaths in last 24 hours. (2021, September 15). The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coronavirus-in-india-live-updates-covid-19-kerala-sept-13/liveblog/86153604.cms

7. Blogs
Manhas, R., & Saproo, K. (2024, September 7). The intelligent libraries: Adapting to the AI age. IP Innovative Publication Blog. https://blog.ipinnovative.com/the-intelligent-libraries-adapting-to-the-ai-age/

8. Preprints
Hampton, S., Rabagliati, H., Sorace, A., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2017). Autism and bilingualism: A qualitative interview study of parents’ perspectives and experiences. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/76xfs

9. Published Thesis
Kabir, J. M. (2016). Factors influencing customer satisfaction at a fast food hamburger chain (Publication No. 10169573) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

10. Website
Oil painting. (2019, December 8). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oil_painting&oldid=929802398

Note: For full instructions, refer to the APA Style Guidelines (7th Edition).


Specific Study Designs and Reporting Guidelines

Authors are strongly encouraged to follow the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines to ensure responsible and inclusive research reporting. When relevant, manuscripts should clearly describe whether sex and gender differences are expected and how they may influence the study.

In the background section, authors should indicate any anticipated sex- or gender-related variations. If the study does not incorporate sex or gender analysis, a clear justification must be provided in the discussion section. The journal recommends that authors follow the complete SAGER guideline framework to promote transparency, rigor, and equity in scientific research.


Publication Ethics Statement

For more information, visit the Publication Ethics section.


Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism includes reusing one’s own previously published work without proper citation, using another author’s content without acknowledgment, or presenting a newly framed idea that is directly derived from an existing source. Such practices are treated as plagiarism by the journal. To ensure originality and integrity, editors and reviewers use standard software like Turnitin, iThenticate, etc., for plagiarism screening.


Reviewer Suggestions

After submitting your manuscript, authors are encouraged to recommend two potential reviewers who possess suitable expertise related to the manuscript’s topic. While editors are not obligated to contact the suggested reviewers, your recommendations help facilitate the peer-review process.

Suggested reviewers must not be affiliated with the same institution as any of the authors. Authors may also propose suitable Editorial Board members of the journal. Additionally, reviewers may be selected from among the scholars whose work you have cited frequently in your manuscript.


English Language Corrections

All submitted manuscripts must be written in clear and grammatically correct English. Authors who need assistance with language quality are encouraged to have their manuscripts professionally edited before submission. Professional editing services—such as those offered by Innovative Author Services—can help ensure clarity, accuracy, and readability.

High-quality language improves the review process and enhances readers’ understanding of your work. Please note that all accepted manuscripts will undergo language editing as part of the journal’s publication process.


Authorship

The journal assumes that all listed authors have reviewed and agreed to the submission guidelines, provided explicit consent for the manuscript submission, and obtained any required institutional approvals related to their responsibilities in conducting the study. Contributors who assisted in the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately in the Acknowledgements section.

Any change to the authorship list—whether adding, removing, or reordering authors—must be approved by all authors, including those removed from the list. The publisher reserves the right to request written confirmation that each listed author meets the journal’s authorship requirements.


Author Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by emailing the journal’s editorial office. An appeal must include a detailed justification and a point-by-point response to each reviewer and/or editor comment. The editorial office may seek expert advisory opinions; on review, the advisory panel may recommend acceptance, further peer review, or uphold the original decision. If the advisory body upholds a rejection, that decision is final.



Editorial Process and Peer-Review

Primary Scrutiny

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Office. This stage ensures that the submission is correctly structured, complies with journal policies, and meets ethical requirements, including guidelines for human and animal research.

Manuscripts that do not meet these basic standards may be rejected before peer review or returned to authors for revision. After this assessment, the Managing Editor consults with the Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editors to determine the next steps.

Peer Review

After passing primary scrutiny, each manuscript is assigned to a minimum of two independent experts for double-blind peer review. Reviewers must:

  • Have no co-authored publications with any of the authors within the past three years.
  • Not be affiliated with or collaborating with any institutions of the manuscript’s authors.

All reviews, decisions, and communications are managed through the journal’s Pre-Publication Portal. Authors receive reviewer comments exclusively through this portal.

If authors disagree with any reviewer comment, they must provide a clear, evidence-based response.

Peer Review Duration

The journal aims to maintain an efficient and transparent review timeline:

  • Initial decision: Within 1–7 days of submission.
  • Peer-review process: Typically 8–12 weeks, depending on article type, reviewer availability, and responsiveness of authors and editorial staff.
  • Publication timeline: Follows the scheduled issue plan after acceptance.

Author Support

Authors can access comprehensive guidance and support throughout the submission and publication process:

  • Visit the journal homepage for submission instructions.
  • Review the detailed manuscript preparation guidelines before uploading your article.
  • After acceptance, consult the Author FAQ for post-acceptance procedures.
  • For queries, contact support@ijmri.com.
  • Training and support resources are also available on the journal website.

Personal Assistance

In case an author requires assistance with the submission of their manuscript at our online submission portal, please contact editor@ijmri.co.in.


Manuscript Templates

The following templates are available for download to assist authors in preparing their manuscripts: