Overview
Advance Journal of Business Management & Social Science (AJBMSS) is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal committed to publishing high-quality articles. All submissions undergo rigorous double-blind peer-review to ensure scientific integrity, methodological soundness and ethical compliance.
AJBMSS adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
Guidelines for authors for AJBMSS are developed to ensure a user-friendly experience while maintaining the highest editorial and publication standards.
How to Submit
- Register/Login at the OJS portal: https://ajbmss.cmpublisher.com/index.php/ajbmss_ojs/login
- New Submission: Create a new submission and select the appropriate article type.
- Upload files: Main manuscript (blinded), Title page (separate), figures, tables, cover letter, and supplementary files.
- Enter Metadata: Title, abstract, keywords, author details, and funding information as prompted by OJS.
- Confirm submission: Retain your manuscript ID for correspondence.
Required Files at Submission
- Main manuscript (with figures and tables).
- Title page (Full author names, Complete affiliations, ORCIDs, Corresponding author contact details).
- Cover letter (As a PDF or Word document).
- All figures (Individual high-resolution files).
- Tables (Embedded in manuscript or separate).
- Supplementary materials (if applicable).
- Ethical approval documentation (if applicable).
- Equator Checklist (if applicable).
- Signed copyright form.
Manuscript Template & Submission Checklist
Download the official manuscript template, submission checklist and sample published article with recommended text organisation structure, mandatory declarations and references style as per the journal’s format. Using the template ensures correct formatting and reduces revision delays.
Resource | Description | Download |
Manuscript Template (.docx) | Pre-formatted Word document with all required styles and sections | [Click here] |
Submission Checklist (.pdf) | Printable checklist to complete before submission | [Click here] |
Sample Published Manuscript (.pdf) | Annotated example of a correctly formatted submission | [Click here] |
Pre-Submission Quick Checklist
- Manuscript is within the specified article type.
- Abstract does not exceed the specified 250-300 word limit.
- Keywords are 6-8 terms that must be listed
- All authors meet authorship criteria (ICMJE).
- References follow the journal’s required style. Click here to see the reference format for AJBMSS.
- All Tables, Figures and References are cited sequentially in the text.
- All mandatory declarations including Authors’ Contribution, List of Abbreviations, Ethics Approval, Informed Consent, COI, Funding, Acknowledgements, AI declarations are complete.
- Manuscript has been checked for language and grammar.
Accepted Article Types
AJBMSS accepts the following article types.| Article Type | Description | Word Limit | Abstract | References |
| Original Research | Primary empirical research with new findings from experimental, observational, or analytical studies. | 2000-6000 | Structured, 250-300 words Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion | 30 or more |
| Review Article | Comprehensive critical synthesis of existing literature on a defined topic. Systematic or narrative. | 3000-8000 | Unstructured, 250-300 words | 40 or more |
| Systematic Review/ Meta-Analysis/ Scoping Review | Evidence synthesis following PRISMA guidelines. Must include search strategy (3 or more databases), Inclusion/Exclusion Criterion, PRISMA flow diagram and filled PRISMA checklist. | 2500-4000 | Structured, 250-300 words Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion | 40 or more |
| Short Communication / Brief Report | Concise report of preliminary findings or observations of immediate scientific interest. | 1500-2,500 | Unstructured, 250-300 words | 20 or more |
| Letter to the Editor | Comments on published articles, brief scientific observations, or responses to journal content. | 500-1000 | Not required | 15 or more |
| Editorial / Commentary | Expert opinion or commentary on current issues. Usually invited; unsolicited submissions considered. | 800-1500 | Not required | 15 or more |
| Technical Note | Description of new methods, protocols, tools, or software of broad scientific utility. | 1500-2500 | Not required | 15 or more |
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required for all submissions. It is reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and provides important context for the submission. It should not exceed one page.
Manuscript Structure & Formatting
Manuscript Sections at a Glance
1. Title Page [Required] | Manuscript Title with list of all authors, complete affiliations, ORCIDs, corresponding author details, word count, running title. |
2. Abstract [Required] | Structured (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) or unstructured depending on article type. Please do not include any citations in the abstract section. |
3. Keywords [Required] | Keywords are 6-8 terms that must be listed. |
4. Introduction [Required] | Present the background, rationale, and identified research gap, followed by a clear statement of the study objective or hypothesis. |
5. Materials & Methods [Required] | Describe the study design, participants, interventions, outcome measures, and statistical analysis. Include details of ethical approval and relevant reference numbers. |
6. Results [Required] | Report findings objectively without interpretation. Ensure all tables and figures are cited sequentially in the text. |
7. Discussion [Required] | Interpret the findings in the context of existing literature. Include implications, study limitations, and recommendations for future research. |
8. Conclusion [Required] | Provide a concise summary of the key findings and their significance. Do not introduce new data or references. |
9. Declarations [Required] | I. Authors’ Contributions II. List of Abbreviations III. Ethics Approval and Informed Consent IV. Conflicts of Interest V. Funding VI. Availability of Data and Materials VII. Acknowledgements VIII. AI Disclosure. |
10. References [Required] | Formatted per journal style. |
11. Tables [If applicable] | Each table must be added in the manuscript where first cited or after references or as a separate file. Title must be above the table and notes below. |
12. Figures [If applicable] | List and cite all figure legends sequentially as Figure 1, Figure 2 and so on. All source figures must also be submitted as separate high-resolution files. |
13. Equations, Statistics & Units [If applicable] | Ensure proper formatting of numbered equations, transparent reporting of statistical methods and results, and consistent use of SI units throughout the manuscript. |
14. Supplementary Material [If applicable] | Additional data, protocols, or analyses not included in the main text. Cited as Supplementary File S1, S2, etc. |
1. Title Page
The title page must be submitted on the first page of the main manuscript.
- Manuscript Title: Concise and informative (<=20 words). No abbreviations, no trade names.
- Running title: <=60 characters including spaces.
- Authors: Full names (First Last) in order of contribution. No titles (Dr,/Prof.) should be added.
- Affiliations: Department, Institution, City, Country for each author (numbered superscripts).
- ORCID IDs: Strongly encouraged for all authors. Register at orcid.org
- Corresponding author: Name, full postal address, email, telephone (optional).
- Word count: Main text only (excluding abstract, references, tables, figure legends).
- Summary: Number of words, tables, figures and references.
2. Abstract
The abstract is a concise summary of the manuscript that allows readers to quickly understand the purpose, methodology, key findings, and implications of the study. It should be self-contained and should not include citations, references, abbreviations (unless necessary), or undefined terms.
Word Limit: Ideally, 250-300 words.
Sections:
- Introduction: Briefly describe the context of the study, the problem being addressed, and its broader relevance. Where applicable, indicate the study’s connection to global challenges or sustainability issues. Also, clearly state the main aim(s) or research question(s) of the study.
- Materials and Methods: Summarize the research design, data sources, sample size, tools and analytical techniques used.
- Discussion: Interpret the results by explaining their meaning, significance, and how they compare with existing literature. Highlight key insights, unexpected findings, and practical or theoretical relevance.
- Results: Present the key findings of the study with specific outcomes or trends.
- Conclusion: Provide the main conclusions and implications of the findings. Highlight practical, theoretical, or policy contributions.
Sustainability Contribution (SDGs):
Authors are encouraged to state how their research contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Identify the specific SDG(s) addressed (e.g., SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production).
- Briefly explain how the study supports sustainable development outcomes, practices, or policies.
Where possible, indicate potential long-term or measurable sustainability impacts.
3. Keywords
Keywords are essential for indexing and improving the discoverability of your article in search engines and databases.
- Provide 6-8 relevant keywords that reflect the core content of the manuscript.
- Include at least one sustainability-related keyword if the study relates to SDGs.
- Use standardized, discipline-specific terms where possible.
- Avoid unnecessary repetition of words already used in the title.
Separate keywords with commas.
4. Introduction
- Start with the broader context of the research problem (2-3 sentences).
- Summarize the current state of knowledge with key citations, do not provide an exhaustive literature review.
- Clearly identify the gap, problem or unanswered question the study addresses.
- State the specific objectives, hypotheses or research questions.
- Do not include methods, results, discussion or conclusions in the Introduction section.
5. Materials and Methods
The Methods section must be transparent and complete.
- Study design: Clearly identify the design (observational, cohort, cross-sectional, survey, etc.).
- Participants/Subjects: Eligibility criteria, recruitment, setting, time period, inclusion/exclusion creiterion.
- Interventions/Exposure/Variables: Describe what was done, measured or compared.
- Outcome measures: Primary and secondary outcomes clearly defined.
- Instruments/Materials: Brand names in parentheses where necessary (Manufacturer, Country).
- Statistical analysis: Software used (including version), tests applied, significance threshold (e.g., p < 0.05), sample size calculation.
- Ethics declaration: State the approving ethical committee name with approval number, guidelines flowed with brief information on informed consent of the participants.
6. Results
- Present findings in a logical order corresponding to the stated objectives.
- Use past tense for what was observed.
- Report data with appropriate measures of precision (means +/- SD, confidence intervals, p-values).
- Do NOT interpret the results here as interpretation belongs in the Discussion section.
- Do not duplicate data shown in tables/figures in the narrative text.
7. Discussion
- Begin with a brief summary of main findings (1-2 sentences) without repeating all numbers.
- Interpret results in the context of existing literature. Compare and contrast with prior studies.
- Explain mechanisms or reasons behind observed findings.
- Clearly state the clinical, practical, or theoretical implications.
- Suggest future research directions.
- Avoid overstating conclusions or inferring causation from association.
8. Conclusion
- The conclusion should be a concise, standalone paragraph (not presented as a list).
- Clearly state the key findings of the study and their direct significance.
- Ensure that the conclusions are logically aligned with the original research objectives.
- Highlight the practical, theoretical, or policy implications of the findings, demonstrating their relevance to academia, industry, or society.
- Do not introduce new data, citations, or arguments at this stage.
- Avoid vague or generic statements such as “more research is needed” without clear justification.
- Briefly acknowledge any study limitations, noting factors that may influence the interpretation or generalizability of the results.
- Provide clear and specific future research directions, explaining how subsequent studies can extend or refine the current work.
9. Declarations
Author Contributions
Authorship must be based on ALL FOUR of the following criteria (ICMJE):
- Substantial contribution to conception or design, or acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
- Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
- Approving the final version to be published.
- Accountability for all aspects of the work.
Authors must clearly specify individual contributions to the manuscript to ensure accountability and transparency.
- Contributions should follow recognized standards such as the CRediT taxonomy (Contributor Roles Taxonomy).
- Each author’s role should be listed using standardized contribution categories.
Common Roles Include:
- Conceptualization
- Methodology
- Software
- Data Curation
- Formal Analysis
- Investigation
- Writing – Original Draft
- Writing – Review & Editing
- Supervision
- Project Administration
Author A: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - Original Draft.
Author B: Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Writing - Review & Editing.
Author C: Supervision, Project Administration
List of Abbreviations
Authors must provide a list of all abbreviations used in the manuscript to ensure clarity and improve readability for a broad academic audience.
- All abbreviations should be defined at first mention in the main text, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.
- A consolidated list of abbreviations should be included in a separate section after the abstract (or as specified by the journal format).
- Abbreviations should be used consistently throughout the manuscript once defined.
- Avoid excessive or unnecessary abbreviations that may reduce clarity.
- Standard scientific and widely recognised abbreviations (e.g., AI, GDP, SDG) may be used but should still be defined upon first use if there is any possibility of ambiguity.
List of Abbreviations:
AI = Artificial Intelligence
SDG = Sustainable Development Goal(s)
GDP = Gross Domestic Product
ML = Machine Learning
NLP = Natural Language Processing
Ethics Approval and Informed Consent
Human Research
- All studies involving human participants must have prior approval from a recognised Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.
- Studies must conform to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (WMA, 2013 revision).
- Statement format: ‘This study was approved by [Name of Ethics Committee], approval number [XXXX], dated [DD/MM/YYYY].’
- If ethics approval was waived, state the reason and the approving authority.
- All participants must have provided written informed consent before participation. State the reason if informed consent is not applicable. Patient identifying information must be removed unless essential and consented to.
- For retrospective studies using patient data: data must be anonymised or ethics committee must have waived the consent requirement.
Animal Research
- Animal experiments must comply with relevant national and institutional guidelines.
- Follow the 3Rs principle: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement.
- Use ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines for reporting (arriveguidelines.org).
- Approval from IACUC or equivalent is required.
SAGER Guidelines – Sex & Gender Reporting
AJBMSS endorse the SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) guidelines to promote transparent and complete reporting of sex and gender in research.
Reference: Heidari et al., Research Integrity and Peer Review, 2016.
| S – Sex as Biological Variable | Report the sex of participants, animals, cells or other biological material. Analyse and report sex-disaggregated data where appropriate. Justify if only one sex is studied. |
| A – Accurate Terminology | Use “sex” for biological attributes and “gender” for psychosocial identity. Use these terms accurately and consistently throughout the manuscript. |
| G – Gender Analysis in Design | Consider sex and gender in study design, data collection, and analysis. Avoid assuming results for one sex/gender apply to all. |
| E – Equitable Inclusion | Ensure equitable inclusion of participants of all sexes and genders. Where this is not possible, provide a scientific justification. |
| R – Reporting in Results | Report outcomes separately by sex and/or gender where feasible. Include sex/gender in descriptive statistics tables. |
Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial, personal, institutional or professional relationships that could be perceived to influence the research, analysis, or interpretation of results.
A conflict of interest may include (but is not limited to):
- Funding or financial support from organizations with a vested interest
- Employment, consultancy, or advisory roles
- Stock ownership or financial investments
- Personal or professional relationships that may bias the work
With Conflict of Interest: Author A has received research funding from XYZ Company. Author B serves as a consultant for ABC Organization. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Funding
Authors must clearly disclose all sources of financial support received for conducting the research and preparing the manuscript.
- Include the name of the funding agency, grant number, and recipient author(s) where applicable.
- If the research received no external funding, authors must explicitly state this.
- Ensure transparency to avoid any perceived bias or conflict of interest.
With Funding: This research was funded by the XYZ Research Council under Grant No. 12345. The funding body had no role in the design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation of the study.
No Funding:: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Availability of Data and Materials
Authors must provide a statement regarding the availability of data used in the study to promote transparency and reproducibility.
- Indicate where the data can be accessed (e.g., repository, supplementary files).
- Provide DOI or link if available.
- If data cannot be shared, clearly state the reason (e.g., confidentiality, ethical restrictions).
Open Data: The data supporting the findings of this study are available in the XYZ Repository at [DOI/link].
Available on Request: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Restricted Data: The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Acknowledgements
This section allows authors to recognize individuals, institutions, or organizations that contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship.
- Include contributions such as technical assistance, data support, language editing, or administrative help.
- Ensure that all acknowledged individuals have given permission to be mentioned.
- Avoid including funding information here (use the Funding section instead).
AI Disclosure
Authors must transparently disclose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of their manuscript.
- AI tools (e.g., text generators, language models, image creators, or data analysis assistants) may be used only to support the research and writing process.
- AI tools must not be listed as authors or credited with authorship.
- Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content.
- Any use of AI must be clearly described, including the tool name, purpose, and extent of use.
Permissible Uses
- Language editing and grammar improvement
- Code assistance or formatting
- Data analysis support (with verification)
Non-Permissible Uses
- Generating original research data without disclosure
- Producing fabricated citations or results
- Submitting AI-generated content without human verification
No AI Use:
The authors declare that no artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.
AI-Assisted Writing: The authors used ChatGPT for language editing and grammar refinement. All content was reviewed, verified, and approved by the authors.
AI-Assisted Analysis: AI-based tools were used to support data analysis. The authors independently verified all outputs and take full responsibility for the results presented.
References
AJBMSS follows the APA Style (7th Edition) for all in-text citations and reference list entries. Authors are required to ensure full accuracy, consistency, and completeness of all references before submission.
General Guidelines
- All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list and vice versa.
- References must be arranged in alphabetical order by the first author’s surname.
- Use hanging indentation for all reference entries.
- Ensure consistency in punctuation, capitalisation, and italics as per APA 7th edition rules.
- Include DOIs or URLs where available, preferably in hyperlink format.
In-Text Citation Style (APA 7th Edition)
- Single author: (Smith, 2022)
- Two authors: (Smith & Khan, 2022)
- Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2022)
- Direct quotation: (Smith, 2022, p. 15)
Reference List Examples
Journal Article:
Smith, J. A., & Khan, R. (2022). Artificial intelligence in financial decision-making. Journal of Financial Studies, 15(2), 101-120. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Book:
Brown, T. (2021). Introduction to machine learning. Springer.
Book Chapter:
Williams, R. (2020). Data ethics in AI systems. In M. Green (Ed.), Advances in artificial intelligence (pp. 45-67). Elsevier.
Web Source:
World Bank. (2023). Digital economy report. https://www.worldbank.org/xxxx
Tables
- Each table must be added in the manuscript where first cited or after references or as a separate file.
- Title appears ABOVE the table; footnotes below.
- Use horizontal lines only and avoid vertical lines and shading.
- Spell out all abbreviations in footnotes even if defined in the text.
- Statistical data: include p-values, confidence intervals, and test statistics as appropriate.
- Do NOT duplicate data shown in figures.
- Number sequentially: Table 1, Table 2…
- Wide tables may be placed in supplementary material if they exceed page margins.
Figures
| Element | Requirement |
| File Format | TIFF or EPS are preferred. High-resolution PDF are also acceptable. JPEG (>300 dpi). PNG for screenshots (>150 dpi halftones; >600 dpi line art). |
| Resolution | Minimum 300 dpi for Color/greyscale photos. 600-1200 dpi for line art. |
| Dimensions | Fit within a single column (8.5 cm) or double column (17.5 cm) width of a printed journal. |
| Color | Figures should be readable in both Color and greyscale. |
| File Naming | Figure1.tif, Figure2A.tif, Figure2B.tif, etc. |
| Legends | Comprehensive self-explanatory legends must be provided in the manuscript. All abbreviations in figures should be defined in the legend. |
| Citation | Each figure cited in order in the text. Multi-panel figures use letters (Figure 1A, 1B, 1C). |
| Third-Party | Written permission required. Source acknowledged in legend. |
Microscopy & Histology
- Include a scale bar (not a magnification ratio because these changes with reproduction).
- State staining method in the legend.
Graphs & Charts
- Axes should be clearly labelled with units.
- Error bars defined in legend (SD, SE, or 95% CI).
- Statistical significance markers (*, **, ***) must be defined in legend.
- Avoid pie charts where likely, bar or dot plots are preferred for scientific data.
Equations, Statistics & Units
Equations
- Number all equations sequentially: (1), (2), (3).
- Use the built-in equation editor in Word or LaTeX for mathematical expressions. Do not type equations as plain text.
- All variables and symbols must be defined in the text on first use.
- Display equations on a separate line, centred, with number right-aligned.
Units & Abbreviations
- Use SI units (International System of Units) throughout. Non-SI units should be converted or shown alongside.
- Define all abbreviations on first use in both the abstract and the main text separately.
- Use standard abbreviations without definition (e.g., DNA, RNA, PCR, CT, MRI, HIV).
- Drug names: use generic (INN) names. Brand names may be added in parentheses at first mention.
- Numbers: spell out one to nine; use numerals for 10 and above. Always use numerals with units (e.g., 5 mg, 3 days).
Statistical Reportin
- Report exact p-values to 2-3 decimal places (e.g., p = 0.032 not p < 0.05) wherever possible.
- Effect sizes and confidence intervals should accompany all primary outcome measures.
- State the statistical software and version used (e.g., SPSS v26, R v4.2, GraphPad Prism v9).
- For biomedical journals, refer to SAMPL guidelines for statistical reporting (equator-network.org).
Supplementary Material
- Includes data, analyses, protocols, videos, datasets, or code that support conclusions but are not essential to the main text.
- Label as: Supplementary File S1, S2… (or Table S1, Figure S1 for specific types).
- Cite all supplementary files in the main text at the point of first relevance.
- Include a brief descriptive title for each supplementary file.
- Supplementary material is peer-reviewed as part of the submission and published alongside the article.
- Maximum file size: [50 MB per file]
- Accepted formats: Word, Excel, PDF, CSV, FASTA, DICOM, MP4 (videos), R/Python scripts.
Transparency and Website Information
- All journal policies, guidelines, editorial information, APC details, and contact information are clearly displayed and regularly updated on the journal website.