Submissions

Author Guidelines

Manuscript types

The Journal of Business and Digital Innovation publishes a wide range of manuscript types, including original research, review manuscripts, commentaries, and opinion pieces. In particular we welcome the following types of manuscripts:

• Standard empirical quantitative, qualitative and systematic literature review research papers of 6000-8000 words in length, with tables, illustrations and references.
• Book reviews of 500 to 1,000 words on recently published research books (not teaching textbook), software, or videos that align with the journal’s focus. Reviews should provide a critical and informative overview of the material’s relevance and contribution to the field.

Regardless of the manuscript type, the language you use plays a crucial role. All manuscripts should be written in English Language. We are also dedicated to fostering equity across our publishing platform and believe that thoughtful language use is a keyway to help the communities we serve feel welcomed, respected, safe, and fully included in the publishing process and content. It's especially important to use inclusive language when addressing topics such as age, appearance, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, and body weight. To support this, we have developed an Inclusive Language Guide that outlines recommended terminology. While the guide is not comprehensive, it is intended to serve as a useful starting point. We understand that language evolves over time, and we are committed to regularly updating the guide to reflect current best practices.

The Main Manuscript Document

The following sections are required in your manuscript: Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgments, Statements and Declarations, and References.

Writing and Formatting

File Format

Please submit editable source files for the entire manuscript, including any figures, tables, and text-based graphics. Follow these guidelines:

• Use editable file types: Word documents should be saved with a .doc or .docx extension, and LaTeX submissions should use the .tex format. PDF files are not accepted as source documents.
• Format your text in a single-column layout.
• Remove all strikethrough or underlined text unless it conveys important scientific meaning.
• Run spell-check and grammar-check tools to minimize language errors in your manuscript.

Artwork, Figures, and Other Graphics

All illustrations, images, and graphs should be provided in high quality and in an electronic format that supports optimal publication both in print and online. Please follow the guidelines below to help us prepare your visuals appropriately.

Format

• TIFF, JPEG: Commonly used for photographs and images without embedded text or graphs.
• EPS: Preferred for graphs and line drawings, as it maintains quality when enlarged or zoomed.

Placement

• Figures, charts, and tables created directly in MS Word should be placed within the main body of the manuscript, not at the end.
• Any graphics generated outside of Word (e.g., in Excel, PowerPoint, or JPG, TIFF, EPS files) should be uploaded separately. Insert a placeholder in the text such as “[insert Figure 1.]”.

Resolution

• Raster image files (TIFF or JPEG) must have a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
• Line art should be submitted at a minimum resolution of 800 dpi.

Dimensions

Ensure that submitted images meet or exceed the journal’s required dimensions, as images cannot be enlarged after submission.

Fonts

Use consistent, legible fonts in your artwork, typically sans serif. Avoid excessive variation in font size or type.

Title

Your manuscript title should be clear, concise, descriptive, and accurately reflect the content of your work. A well-defined title that clearly indicates the manuscript's subject helps improve discoverability in major indexing databases.

Abstract

The abstract should briefly summarize the purpose of the study, key findings, and main conclusions. For studies involving clinical trials, you must include the name of the trial registry, its URL, and the registration number at the end of the abstract. Submissions lacking this information will not be considered. The abstract word count should not exceed 250 words.

Keywords

Following the abstract, you will need to provide a set number of keywords (Maximum of 5 words). These should be highly specific to your research topic to enhance searchability.

Acknowledgements

If you include an Acknowledgements section, this will be published at the end of your manuscript.

Permissions

If you are reproducing figures, tables, illustrations, or extended quotations from previously published sources, make sure you have obtained the necessary copyright permissions.

References

Please use Harvard referencing only. Every in-text citation must have a corresponding citation in the reference list and vice versa. Corresponding citations must have identical spelling and year

Manuscript Structure

Manuscript Sections

Structure your manuscript with clearly defined numbered sections. Subsections should be numbered using a hierarchical format—e.g., 1.1, followed by 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc., then 1.2, and so on.

When referring to specific sections in the text, use these numbering labels rather than vague references like “the text.”

You may assign short titles to subsections; these headings should appear on separate lines.

Note: The abstract should not be included in the numbered sections.

Theory and Data Analysis

The theory section should build upon the introduction, offering a deeper theoretical background that supports further analysis. The data analysis section should then apply this theoretical framework to practical analysis or modelling.

Glossary

Include a separate list defining any technical or field-specific terms used in your manuscript.

Footnotes

Use footnotes sparingly. If used, number them consecutively throughout the text.

You can either use your word processor’s automatic footnote feature or mark footnote positions manually in the text and list them in a separate section at the end of the manuscript.