Policies for PMOR

1. Journal Frequency and Publication Schedule

• Frequency: PMOR is published biannually (two issues per year):
  • Issue 1: June
  • Issue 2: December
• Continuous Submission: Manuscripts are accepted year-round.
• Publication Timeline:
  • Final versions of accepted articles are published online first (ahead of print) upon completion of production.
  • Full issues are compiled and released in June and December annually.

2. Guidelines for Submission of Research Articles

PMOR publishes original research papers on the understanding that submissions are not under consideration elsewhere. The journal is published biannually, but manuscripts are accepted throughout the year. Authors are encouraged to carefully review the "Aims and Scope" of PMOR before submitting their manuscripts.

• Submission of Manuscripts
  • Articles can be submitted via the journal website. Register now. 
  • Manuscripts should not be more than 10000 words, including references, tables, and figures.
  • The similarity index must not exceed 19% overall or 4% from a single source.
• Title Page Requirements

A separate title page must be submitted and should include the following:

• • Title of the manuscript (concise and clear)
  • Full names of all authors
  • Institutional affiliations of all authors
  • Email address of the corresponding author

Note: Do not include any identifying information in the main manuscript to ensure a double-blind review process.

• Abstract and Keywords

Each manuscript must include an abstract of no more than 250 words. The abstract should clearly state:

• • Purpose of the study
  • Research design/methodology
  • Key findings
  • Limitations/implications
  • Contribution of the research

Provide up to six keywords that represent the main themes of the manuscript.

• Manuscript Formatting
  • Use clear and short headings to indicate the hierarchy of sections and subsections (all headings in bold).
  • Use footnotes only when essential, numbered consecutively.
  • All figures (charts, diagrams, line drawings) and tables must be included within the text (not at the end). They should:

• • Be clear and high quality (black and white)
  • Be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals
  • Include descriptive captions
• Referencing
  • References must strictly follow the APA 7th edition style.
  • All citations should be accurate, consistent, and complete.
  • URLs must be provided for references where available.
• Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submission, authors must confirm the following:

1. The manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere. (If otherwise, an explanation must be provided in the Comments to the Editor.)
2. The file is in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or RTF format.
3. URLs are provided for all references, where applicable.
4. The text is 1.5 spaced, uses 12-point Times New Roman, and all figures/tables are embedded within the text at relevant points.
5. The manuscript fully complies with the stylistic and referencing requirements of APA 7th edition.

3. Peer Review Policy

• Review Model:

Double-blind peer review.

• Reviewers:

Minimum two independent experts in the relevant field.

• Selection Criteria:

Reviewers are selected based on expertise, publication record, and absence of conflicts of interest.

• Review Timeline:
  • Initial review completed within 4–8 weeks of submission.
  • Authors receive decision (Accept, Minor/Major Revision, or Reject) with reviewer comments.
• Revision Period:

Authors are given 4 weeks to submit revised manuscripts.

• Final Decision:

Made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the editorial board.

• Transparency:

Reviewers must declare conflicts of interest and adhere to COPE guidelines.

4. Originality and Plagiarism Policy

• Plagiarism Check:

All submissions screened via iThenticate or equivalent software.

• Acceptable Similarity:
  • Maximum 19% overall similarity
  • No more than 4% from any single source
• Consequences:
  • Exceeding thresholds results in desk rejection.
  • Intentional plagiarism (text, data, ideas) leads to rejection and possible blacklisting.
• Self-Plagiarism:
  • Substantial reuse of author’s prior work must be disclosed and cited; otherwise treated as misconduct.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
  • Authors must disclose any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as language models, text generators, coding assistants, statistical automation tools or image generation software used during the preparation of the manuscript. AI tools may assist in improving language, organizing content or generating preliminary ideas but they must not be credited as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of all content produced with AI assistance. Any AI-generated text, data, images or analysis must be carefully reviewed, verified and properly attributed in the Acknowledgements section or in a dedicated “AI Use Disclosure” note. Failure to disclose AI involvement may be treated as a breach of publication ethics.

5. Subscription Details

Public Management and Operations Review (PMOR) is a fully open access journal published by the Department of Public Administration, Virtual University of Pakistan.

• All content is freely available to readers, researchers, institutions, and the general public without subscription fees, paywalls, or registration barriers.
• Authors are not charged any article processing charges (APCs), publication fees, or submission fees. All publication costs are fully covered by the Virtual University of Pakistan as part of its commitment to advancing scholarly research in public management and operations.
• Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
• The journal is archived and indexed in the Virtual University’s institutional repository and other academic databases to ensure long-term visibility and preservation.

There are no subscription plans, institutional or individual, as PMOR operates on a non-commercial, institutional-support model dedicated to open scholarly exchange.

6. Ethical Guidelines

Public Management and Operations Review (PMOR) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical integrity in all aspects of its editorial and publishing processes. The journal adheres to the principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness, in accordance with guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and best practices in scholarly publishing. These ethical guidelines apply to authors, editors, reviewers, and the editorial team.

• Authors

Following are the ethical guidelines for authors while submitting their contribution to PMOR:

• • Originality and Plagiarism:

Authors must ensure that their submitted work is original and has not been previously published in any form. Proper citation and referencing of all sources must be provided. Plagiarism in any form—including text, ideas, data, or methods—will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript.

• • Duplicate and Concurrent Submission:

Manuscripts submitted to PMOR must not be under consideration by any other journal. Duplicate submission or republication without proper disclosure is considered unethical and will lead to rejection or retraction.

• • Data Integrity and Falsification:

Authors are required to present accurate, honest, and reliable data. Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, or selective omission of data to support conclusions is strictly prohibited.

• • Authorship and Contribution:

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research. All co-authors must have approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors are properly listed and have consented to publication.

• • Acknowledgements and Conflicts of Interest:

All sources of funding, institutional support, and assistance (e.g., technical help, editorial support) must be disclosed. Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest (financial, personal, or professional) that could influence the interpretation of their work.

• • Use of Previously Published Material:

If figures, tables, or substantial text excerpts from previously published or copyrighted material are used, authors must obtain written permission from the copyright holder and clearly acknowledge the source.

• Editors

Following ethical guidelines should be followed by the editors while editing submissions:

• • Confidentiality:

Editors must maintain strict confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts. Information about a manuscript is shared only with the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial board members, as necessary.

• • Impartiality and Fairness:

Editorial decisions must be based solely on the manuscript’s academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope—without bias based on the author’s nationality, institution, gender, or political views.

• • Publication Decisions:

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team have full authority to accept, reject, or request revisions to manuscripts. These decisions are guided by peer review outcomes and editorial policies.

• • Handling Misconduct:

Editors are responsible for investigating any allegations of ethical misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical authorship. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate actions—such as rejection, retraction, or notification of the author’s institution—will be taken.

• Reviewers

Reviewers should follow the below mentioned ethical guidelines while reviewing a submission to PMOR:

• • Confidentiality:

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents. They must not discuss the manuscript with others or use the content for personal advantage.

• • Objectivity and Constructiveness:

Reviews should be conducted objectively, based on academic rigor and relevance. Personal criticism of the author is unacceptable. Reviewers should provide clear, constructive, and evidence-based feedback to help improve the manuscript.

• • Conflict of Interest:

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from reviewing manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

• • Timeliness:

Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the agreed timeframe. If unable to meet the deadline, they should inform the editorial office promptly.

7. Privacy Statement

The names, email addresses, and institutional affiliations provided during the submission process are used solely for the purposes of manuscript processing, peer review, and communication related to the journal. This information will not be shared with third parties or used for any other purpose.

By submitting to Public Management and Operations Review, authors, reviewers, and editors affirm their commitment to these ethical standards. Upholding research integrity is a shared responsibility essential to advancing knowledge in public management and operations.

For further guidance, authors may refer to the COPE Ethical Guidelines at https://publicationethics.org

8. Authorship, Contribution, and Consent

Authorship Criteria:

Limited to individuals who:

(a) Contributed to conception, design, or analysis;

(b) Drafted or critically revised the manuscript;

(c) Approved the final version;

(d) Agree to be accountable for the work.

Corresponding Author Responsibility:

Ensure all co-authors consent to submission.

Confirm accurate contribution statements (if requested during revision).

Changes to Authorship:

Only permitted before acceptance, with written justification and approval from all authors.

9. Publication Timelines and Workflow

10. Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

• All authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts (financial, personal, institutional) that may influence the research.
• Disclosure statements must appear in the Acknowledgements section of the manuscript.
• Undisclosed conflicts discovered post-publication may lead to correction or retraction.

11. Publication Misconduct and Corrections

• Retractions and Corrections:

PMOR will issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. Retractions will be published for cases involving proven misconduct, major errors, or unethical research.

• Post-Publication Review:

Readers are encouraged to contact the editorial office if they identify potential ethical concerns in published articles. All such concerns will be investigated promptly and appropriately.