Author Guidelines
Everything you need to know to prepare and submit your manuscript to the DOU Journal of Management Sciences.
Submission Guidelines
Please read all guidelines carefully before preparing your manuscript.
Language
All manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English (British or American, applied consistently).
Word Length
Manuscripts should be between 5,000 – 8,000 words, excluding references, tables, and figures.
File Format
Submit manuscripts as Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files. PDF submissions are not accepted for the initial review.
Originality
Submissions must be original, unpublished work not under consideration elsewhere. Co-authored manuscripts require consent from all listed authors.
Manuscript Format & Structure
The main manuscript file must be fully anonymised for peer review — remove all author information.
Title Page (separate file)
Full title, all authors with affiliations, corresponding author email, acknowledgements.
Abstract & Keywords
150–250 word structured abstract, followed by 5–8 keywords.
Introduction
Background, problem statement, research objectives, and significance of the study.
Literature Review
Critical review of existing literature, theoretical framework, and research gaps.
Methodology
Research design, data collection methods, population/sample, instruments, and analysis techniques.
Results & Discussion
Presentation of findings followed by interpretation, implications, and comparison with prior literature.
Conclusion
Summary of major findings, contributions, limitations, and recommendations for future research.
References
Complete list of all cited works, formatted strictly in APA 7th Edition.
Abstract & Keywords
Abstract Requirements
- ✓ 150–250 words maximum
- ✓ Single unindented paragraph
- ✓ State the purpose, methodology, key findings, and conclusion
- ✓ No citations or abbreviations
- ✓ Written in past tense for findings
Keywords Requirements
- ✓ 5–8 keywords per article
- ✓ Listed after the abstract, separated by semicolons
- ✓ Lowercase (except proper nouns)
- ✓ Reflect the article's key themes and methodology
- ✓ Avoid repeating words from the title
Referencing Style
All manuscripts must use the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition citation style. In-text citations and reference list entries must follow this format consistently.
Journal Article Example:
Egbunike, P. A., & Ideh, D. A. (2025). Corporate governance and financial performance in Nigerian firms. DOU Journal of Management Sciences, 1(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Book Example:
Kotler, P., & Armstrong, G. (2021). Principles of marketing (18th ed.). Pearson.
In-Text Citations
Use (Author, Year) for parenthetical citations or Author (Year) for narrative citations.
Reference List
Alphabetical by first author surname. Hanging indent. All in-text citations must appear in the reference list and vice versa.
Plagiarism Policy
Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism
Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% (as detected by Turnitin or equivalent software) will be automatically rejected at the desk review stage without proceeding to peer review.
<20%
Similarity Threshold
Maximum allowed (Turnitin)
Desk
Stage of Detection
Before peer review begins
Reject
Consequence
Immediate rejection if exceeded
Authors are encouraged to self-check similarity scores before submission. Self-citations, when excessive, are also flagged. Fabrication or falsification of data constitutes research misconduct and may result in retraction and notification of the author's institution.
Review Process & Timeline
Submission & Desk Review ~ 1 week
The editorial office checks formatting, scope alignment, and plagiarism. Authors are notified of desk decisions within 1 week.
Double-Blind Peer Review 4–8 weeks
Manuscripts are sent anonymously to at least two independent subject-matter experts. Both author and reviewer identities remain confidential throughout.
Editorial Decision ~ 1 week after review
The Editor-in-Chief issues one of four decisions: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.
Revision & Resubmission
Authors revise according to reviewer comments and return a revised manuscript with a detailed response letter addressing each point raised.
Final Acceptance & Publication
Accepted articles undergo copyediting and typesetting before Open Access publication in the next scheduled issue.
Submission Checklist
Verify all items below before submitting. Incomplete submissions will be returned.