Editorial Board – Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Journal Nature

Quarterly | Double-Blind Peer Reviewed | Open Access | OJS Platform

1. Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to clearly define the roles, responsibilities, authority, and operational procedures of the Editorial Board of CIJMR, in order to maintain the journal’s academic quality, ethical standards, and continuity of publication.

2. Composition of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board shall consist of the following positions:

1. Editor-in-Chief
   
   

2. Managing Editor
   
   

3. Associate Editors (subject-based)
   
   

4. Editorial Board Members
   
   

5. Advisory Board (optional)
   
   

3. Editor-in-Chief SOP

3.1 Key Responsibilities

• Define the academic direction and editorial policies of the journal
  
  

• Take final publication decisions (Accept or Reject)
  
  

• Appoint and supervise the Editorial Board
  
  

• Make decisions related to ethics (plagiarism, misconduct, retraction)
  
  

• Approve Special Issues and Editorial Policies
  
  

3.2 Authority

• Final decision-making authority on all manuscripts
  
  

• Recommend restructuring or renewal of the Editorial Board
  
  

• Approve and revise journal policies
  
  

4. Managing Editor SOP

(Summary – detailed SOP will be provided in a separate document)

• Manage the submission and peer review process
  
  

• Monitor workflow on the OJS platform
  
  

• Coordinate with Associate Editors and Reviewers
  
  

• Ensure adherence to the publication schedule
  
  

• Report regularly to the Editorial Board
  
  

5. Associate Editor SOP

(Summary)

• Handle assigned manuscripts
  
  

• Select subject-appropriate reviewers
  
  

• Monitor review quality and timelines
  
  

• Provide recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief
  
  

6. Editorial Board Members SOP

6.1 Key Responsibilities

• Conduct peer reviews of research manuscripts
  
  

• Evaluate academic quality and research validity
  
  

• Assist with Special Issues or Theme Issues when required
  
  

• Provide suggestions for the academic development of the journal
  
  

6.2 Expected Contributions

• Complete at least 2 to 4 reviews per year
  
  

• Submit review reports within the stipulated timeframe
  
  

• Maintain ethical standards and confidentiality
  
  

7. Advisory Board SOP (If Applicable)

• Provide strategic and policy-level guidance
  
  

• Support international standards and indexing preparedness
  
  

• Not mandatory to be directly involved in daily operations
  
  

8. Peer Review SOP (For Editorial Board)

• Strictly follow the Double-Blind Peer Review process
  
  

• Maintain confidentiality of reviewer and author identities
  
  

• Declare any Conflict of Interest, if applicable
  
  

• Provide unbiased and evidence-based reviews
  
  

9. Ethics and Code of Conduct

Editorial Board members must:

• Take a firm stand against plagiarism, duplicate submissions, and data fabrication
  
  

• Not share confidential information with third parties
  
  

• Avoid influencing decisions for personal or institutional interests
  
  

• Report any suspicious or unethical behavior to the Editor-in-Chief
  
  

10. Tenure

• Tenure of Editorial Board members: 2 years
  
  

• Renewable based on performance and contribution
  
  

11. Performance Review

Evaluation Criteria

• Timely completion of reviews
  
  

• Quality of review reports
  
  

• Academic and ethical conduct
  
  

• Active participation in journal development
  
  

In Case of Inactive Members

• Issue of warning
  
  

• Removal from the Editorial Board, if necessary
  
  

12. Meetings and Communication

• Editorial Board Meeting: At least once a year (online or offline)
  
  

• Email or virtual meetings for urgent matters
  
  

13. SOP Revision

This SOP may be revised, when necessary, with the approval of the Editor-in-Chief and the Publisher.

Final Note

By following this SOP, CIJMR will be managed as a transparent, ethical, and internationally recognized research journal.