The peer review process is a fundamental component of the editorial process in ensuring the academic quality and integrity of articles published in the Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarship, transparency, and fairness. The policy below outlines the principles and procedures that govern the peer review process at our journal.
1. Review Process Overview
All submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process. This means that both the authors and the reviewers are anonymized throughout the review process to ensure an unbiased evaluation of the submitted work.
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Initial Submission: When a manuscript is submitted, it is first assessed by the editor-in-chief for suitability, relevance, and alignment with the journal’s scope.
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Reviewer Selection: If the manuscript passes the initial assessment, the editor-in-chief will select qualified peer reviewers who have expertise in the subject area of the manuscript.
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Review Process: The selected peer reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on several criteria, including the originality of the work, the clarity of the research, the methodology used, the significance of the results, and the overall contribution to the field. Reviewers are required to provide constructive feedback and recommendations to help improve the manuscript.
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Decision: Based on the reviewers’ comments, the editor-in-chief will make a decision regarding the manuscript. The possible decisions are:
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Accept: The manuscript is accepted for publication with or without minor revisions.
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Revise: The manuscript requires revisions (major or minor), and the authors must address the feedback and resubmit the revised manuscript.
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Reject: The manuscript is rejected if it does not meet the journal’s standards or if the necessary revisions are not satisfactory.
2. Reviewer Responsibilities
Peer reviewers are essential to the success of the journal’s mission. As such, reviewers are expected to:
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Provide an objective, fair, and thorough evaluation of the manuscript.
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Evaluate the manuscript based on academic rigor, originality, and relevance to the field of Information Systems, Information Technology, and Computer Science.
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Maintain confidentiality and not disclose any information about the manuscript to third parties.
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Be honest and transparent about their potential conflicts of interest (e.g., personal or professional relationships with the authors).
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Provide constructive, clear, and concise feedback that helps the authors improve their manuscript.
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Complete their review within the agreed-upon timeframe (typically 2-3 weeks).
3. Author Responsibilities
Authors submitting manuscripts to the Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology are expected to:
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Submit only original, unpublished work that is not under consideration elsewhere.
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Address all comments and feedback provided by the peer reviewers in a transparent manner and resubmit a revised manuscript if required.
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Respond promptly to editorial decisions and any additional queries or requests from the editorial team.
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Acknowledge any conflicts of interest related to the manuscript.
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Ensure that all cited references are accurate and correctly formatted.
4. Confidentiality
Both authors and reviewers are required to uphold the confidentiality of the manuscript. Manuscripts under review must not be shared, discussed, or used for personal advantage by the reviewers or editors. Any ideas or data included in a submitted manuscript must not be used by reviewers or editors without the author's permission.
5. Conflict of Interest
The Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology requires full disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the impartiality of the review process. Reviewers must declare any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their judgment. If a reviewer is unable to provide an unbiased evaluation due to a conflict of interest, they should decline the invitation to review.
6. Ethics and Integrity
The Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology upholds the highest standards of ethics in publishing. We adhere to guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We are committed to preventing plagiarism, data fabrication, and other forms of academic misconduct. Authors, reviewers, and editors must comply with these ethical standards, ensuring that published research is trustworthy and credible.
7. Timeliness
The review process is aimed at ensuring timely publication of high-quality articles. We encourage our reviewers to complete their evaluations within 2-3 weeks of receiving a manuscript. This enables authors to receive feedback and make necessary revisions promptly.
8. Open Review (Optional)
To promote transparency, the Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology may, at the discretion of the editor-in-chief, implement an open peer review process, where reviewer identities and comments are made publicly available along with the final publication of the article. This initiative helps to increase transparency and accountability in the peer review process.
9. Appeals and Complaints
If authors feel that the peer review process was unfair or biased, they have the right to appeal the editorial decision. In such cases, the authors should submit a formal appeal to the editor-in-chief, providing clear justifications for their concerns. The editorial team will review the appeal, and if necessary, a new set of reviewers will be appointed to reassess the manuscript.
10. Reviewer Recognition
We greatly appreciate the time and effort that our peer reviewers dedicate to ensuring the quality of the manuscripts published in the Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology. As a token of gratitude, reviewers may be recognized in the journal’s annual report or awarded reviewer certificates, depending on their contributions.
This policy outlines the principles and procedures that ensure the integrity, quality, and fairness of the peer review process at the Sienna Journal of Information Systems and Technology. We are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and transparency to foster an environment of academic excellence.
