Editorial Structure and Governance Model

Editorial Structure and Governance Model

1. Governance Framework

  The International Journal of Infrastructure Research and Management (IJIRM) operates under a structured and transparent editorial governance framework designed to ensure academic integrity, independence, and high scholarly standards.

The journal’s governance structure consists of:

     
  • Editor-in-Chief
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  • Deputy / Managing Editors
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  • Associate Editors
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  • Editorial Board Members
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  • Advisory Board

  Each role is clearly defined to ensure accountability, separation of responsibilities, and integrity in editorial decision-making.

2. Editor-in-Chief

  The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) holds ultimate responsibility for the academic direction and editorial integrity of the journal. The EIC:

     
  • Defines the journal’s strategic development and scope
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  • Oversees editorial policy formulation
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  • Ensures compliance with international ethical standards
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  • Makes final decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection
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  • Safeguards independence from commercial or institutional influence

  The EIC operates independently and is accountable for maintaining the journal’s scholarly quality and ethical standards.

3. Associate Editors

  Associate Editors manage the peer review process within their areas of expertise. Their responsibilities include:

     
  • Conducting initial manuscript assessment
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  • Selecting qualified and independent reviewers
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  • Evaluating reviewer reports
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  • Recommending editorial decisions to the Editor-in-Chief
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  • Monitoring review timelines and quality standards

  Associate Editors act impartially and are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest.

4. Editorial Board Members

  Editorial Board Members contribute to:

     
  • Peer review of manuscripts
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  • Recommending qualified reviewers
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  • Advising on editorial policies
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  • Proposing thematic issues and special collections
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  • Promoting the journal within international academic communities

  Board members are selected based on academic excellence, research impact, and disciplinary relevance. Appointments are reviewed periodically to ensure continued engagement and active contribution.

5. Advisory Board

  The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and long-term development advice. While not directly involved in day-to-day editorial decisions, advisory members support the journal’s international positioning and academic advancement.

6. Editorial Independence

  IJIRM maintains strict editorial independence. Editorial decisions are based solely on:

     
  • Academic merit
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  • Methodological rigor
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  • Relevance to the journal’s scope
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  • Ethical compliance

  Neither the publisher nor any sponsoring institution influences editorial decisions.

7. Conflict of Interest Management

  All editorial members must declare potential conflicts of interest. When a conflict arises:

     
  • The handling editor is replaced
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  • An independent editor manages the review process
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  • The decision-making process is documented

  Transparency and fairness are strictly maintained.

8. Peer Review Oversight

  The journal applies a double-blind peer review system. To ensure review quality:

     
  • At least two independent reviewers are assigned
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  • Reviewer performance is monitored
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  • Editorial timelines are recorded
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  • Review integrity is periodically evaluated

9. Ethical Oversight and Compliance

  IJIRM adheres to the principles of:

     
  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
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  • International research integrity standards
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  • Data transparency requirements
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  • AI usage disclosure policies

  Allegations of misconduct are handled through structured investigation procedures, including correction, retraction, or expression of concern where necessary.

10. Transparency and Accountability

  To ensure accountability:

     
  • Editorial policies are publicly accessible
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  • Review timelines are disclosed
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  • Licensing terms are clearly stated
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  • Governance structure is updated periodically

  The journal regularly evaluates its governance performance to align with international indexing and scholarly publishing standards.