A Practical Starting Point for Researchers
The Journal of International Management (JIM) is an Elsevier journal focused on the management of global enterprises, international management theory and practice, and research with implications for international strategy and management. The journal’s official scope explicitly includes theoretical and empirical work on international business strategy, comparative and cross-cultural management, risk management, organizational behavior, human resource management and related international-management questions.
For researchers evaluating the journal, the central question is not simply whether a paper is “about business.” A stronger fit is likely when the manuscript makes a meaningful contribution to understanding management across borders, multinational enterprises, international strategy, cross-cultural settings or other problems where the international context is theoretically important. A study that merely uses data from several countries without explaining why the international dimension changes the theory may be less convincing.
This profile separates verified journal facts from practical interpretation. Journal metrics, publishing fees, editorial information and indexing can change, so the links provided below should be checked again immediately before submission.
Quick Answer: What Is the Journal of International Management?
Journal of International Management is a peer-reviewed Elsevier journal devoted to international management and global-enterprise research. Its official aims emphasize theory and practice concerning global enterprises and international management, and its readership includes academic researchers, educators and business professionals.
The journal is listed by Elsevier as indexed in Scopus and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). The supplied Scopus source record identifies Source ID 20633. At the time of this review, Elsevier displays a CiteScore of 10.1 and an Impact Factor of 4.9. These figures should be treated as dated metric displays rather than permanent values.
Key Takeaways
- Publisher: Elsevier.
- ISSN: 1075-4253 print; 1873-0620 online.
- Scopus identity: Source ID 20633 in the supplied source record.
- Scope: international management, global enterprises, international strategy, cross-cultural management, risk, organizational behavior and HRM.
- Publisher-displayed metrics at review time: CiteScore 10.1 and Impact Factor 4.9.
- Publishing model: hybrid; subscription publication or gold open access.
- Open-access APC shown by Elsevier: USD 4,090 excluding taxes, subject to eligibility and current pricing.
- Best-fit manuscripts: papers with a clear international-management contribution, not simply an international dataset.
Journal Information at a Glance
| Field | Journal information |
|---|---|
| Journal name | Journal of International Management |
| Source type | Journal |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Print ISSN | 1075-4253 |
| Online ISSN | 1873-0620 |
| Scopus Source ID | 20633 |
| Subject areas shown by Elsevier | Business and International Management; Strategy and Management |
| Broader supplied classification | Social Sciences; Business, Management and Accounting; Economics, Econometrics and Finance |
| CiteScore displayed by Elsevier | 10.1 (publisher display reviewed August 2026) |
| Impact Factor displayed by Elsevier | 4.9 (publisher display reviewed August 2026) |
| 2024 SJR | 1.685, reported by Wageningen University & Research Journal Browser from Scopus metrics |
| 2024 SNIP | 1.729, reported by Wageningen University & Research Journal Browser from Scopus metrics |
| 2024 Scopus quartile | Q1 in Finance, Business and International Management, and Strategy and Management, as reported by WUR Journal Browser |
| Indexing listed by Elsevier | Scopus; Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI); SJR; SNIP; ABDC |
| Publication frequency | Elsevier Shop lists one volume and six issues annually |
| Open access model | Hybrid: gold open access or subscription publishing |
| Gold OA APC | USD 4,090 excluding taxes, according to Elsevier’s current OA page |
| Subscription publication fee | Elsevier states no publication fee is charged to authors for the subscription route |
| Editor shown by Elsevier | Vikas Kumar, PhD, University of Sydney |
| Official website | ScienceDirect journal page |
| Scopus profile | Scopus Source ID 20633 |
What This Page Covers
- Aims and scope
- Scopus and SSCI indexing
- CiteScore, SJR, SNIP and quartiles
- Article types
- Open access and APCs
- Journal-fit evaluation
- Submission preparation
- Peer-review expectations
- Ethics and author responsibility
Methodology and Source Note
This guide was prepared from the journal’s current ScienceDirect profile, Elsevier’s Journal Insights, the publisher’s open-access information, the journal’s editorial board page, the supplied Scopus source record, and the Wageningen University & Research Journal Browser for dated Scopus-derived SJR, SNIP and quartile figures.
Metrics, fees, indexing, editorial teams, special issues, submission systems and author instructions can change. Confirm the latest official information before submitting or using a metric for formal academic eligibility.
What Does the Journal Actually Publish?
The journal’s official aims and scope center on understanding issues in the management of global enterprises and on developing international management theory and practice. Its purpose is not merely descriptive: the journal emphasizes theoretical and managerial implications that advance research.
Elsevier specifically identifies research on international business strategy, comparative and cross-cultural management, risk management, organizational behavior and human resource management. The scope also makes room for literature reviews and critiques when they help improve theory and research, and for work that advances educational methodology across international-management fields.
Strong scope signals
Multinational enterprises, cross-border strategy, internationalization, institutional differences, international HRM, cross-cultural management, global risk and international organizational behavior.
Possible fit concerns
Purely domestic management studies, descriptive country comparisons without theoretical international relevance, or work whose central contribution belongs more clearly to another specialist discipline.
Theoretical research
The journal explicitly welcomes theoretical work when it advances international management understanding.
Empirical research
Empirical studies are central to the journal, provided the international-management contribution is clear and methodologically credible.
Editorial interpretation: because the scope links global-enterprise problems with theory development, authors should explain why the international context changes, extends or tests management theory rather than treating geography as background detail.
Recent Themes Show How Broad International Management Can Be
Recent and recent-in-press material on the journal’s official site illustrates the breadth of the field. Topics include global connectivity amid disruption, socio-political risk methodologies, knowledge governance in multinational firms, cultural intelligence, political risk in cross-border acquisitions, nationalization policy responses, SME internationalization, headquarters dispersion and global value-chain reconfiguration.
Recent special-issue themes likewise address polycrises, geopolitical tensions and climate crisis; institutions and innovation; indigenous management systems in the Middle East; replication and research rigor; and new globalization involving offshoring, reshoring, nearshoring and friend-shoring. These examples do not define the full scope, but they help researchers understand the journal’s interest in theoretically significant international-management problems shaped by contemporary global change.
Understanding Its Scopus Coverage and Journal Metrics
Elsevier currently lists the Journal of International Management as indexed in Scopus and SSCI. The supplied source record identifies Scopus Source ID 20633, while the official journal page confirms the print and online ISSNs. Using these identifiers is safer than relying on title matching alone.
At the time this article was prepared, Elsevier displayed a CiteScore of 10.1 and an Impact Factor of 4.9. Wageningen University & Research’s Journal Browser reports 2024 Scopus metrics of SJR 1.685 and SNIP 1.729, with Q1 placement in Finance, Business and International Management, and Strategy and Management.
Is This Journal a Good Match for Your Research?
A journal can be reputable and still be wrong for a particular manuscript. For JIM, the most useful fit test is whether the paper’s research question, theory and contribution are genuinely international-management problems.
Signs of stronger fit
- The central research question concerns multinational enterprises, international strategy or cross-border management.
- Institutional, cultural, political or geographic differences are theoretically meaningful rather than decorative controls.
- The paper explains a contribution to international management theory, not only to a local managerial problem.
- The methods can credibly support the international comparison, causal claim or theoretical inference being made.
- The discussion explains implications for international management scholarship and, where relevant, global managerial practice.
Signals to reconsider
- The manuscript is essentially domestic and could be published unchanged if the country name were removed.
- The main contribution is primarily marketing, accounting, information systems or another specialist field with little international-management development.
- The international setting is used only because the available dataset happens to contain multiple countries.
- The paper does not engage with the international-management literature that would be expected by the journal’s readers.
Article Types and Contribution Expectations
The official scope supports theoretical and empirical research, literature reviews and critiques, and contributions to educational methodology in international management. The exact labels available in the submission system can change, so authors should use the current Guide for Authors rather than an old template or a third-party manuscript-formatting page.
For empirical research, a strong submission should connect data and method to a specific international-management contribution. For theory papers, the contribution must be more than a restatement of familiar frameworks in a global setting. For reviews or critiques, synthesis should lead to a clearer research agenda, theoretical refinement or methodological insight rather than only cataloguing prior studies.
Preparing and Submitting a Manuscript
The journal’s official page directs authors to its Guide for Authors and online submission route. Because exact manuscript-format requirements are subject to change, this guide does not invent a word limit, reference style, abstract length or file specification that has not been verified from the current journal instructions.
- Confirm scope first. Read the official aims and scope and compare your topic with several recent JIM articles.
- Clarify the contribution. State what changes in international-management knowledge because of your study.
- Check the current Guide for Authors. Verify manuscript files, anonymization rules, declarations, tables, figures, references and supplementary-material requirements.
- Prepare an accurate title and abstract. Make the international-management question and contribution visible without exaggeration.
- Audit citations and references. Every cited source should be traceable and every reference-list entry should be used appropriately.
- Complete authorship and disclosure requirements. Confirm author order, funding, competing interests, ethics approvals where applicable, data statements and any required AI-use declaration.
- Submit only through the current official route. Follow the journal’s ScienceDirect “Submit your article” link or the current publisher-provided submission system.
What Happens After You Submit a Manuscript?
Elsevier identifies articles in press as accepted, peer-reviewed articles, confirming that peer review is part of the journal’s publication process. The current editorial board page lists Vikas Kumar, PhD as editor and shows a large international editorial board.
The publisher’s Journal Insights page currently reports 15 days from submission to first decision, 103 days from submission to decision after review, 422 days from submission to acceptance and 12 days from acceptance to online publication. These figures are journal-level historical indicators and should not be interpreted as deadlines or guarantees for an individual paper.
An official acceptance rate was not found in the authoritative sources reviewed. Researchers should therefore avoid websites that present an unsupported acceptance percentage as if it were an Elsevier statistic.
Open Access, APCs and Subscription Publishing
Journal of International Management is a hybrid journal. Elsevier currently offers gold open access or subscription publication. The open-access page lists an APC of USD 4,090 excluding taxes for all articles. The publisher notes that the final amount may be reduced depending on factors such as institutional agreements or other eligibility.
For the subscription route, Elsevier states that no publication fee is charged to authors, and the article is available to subscribers. The open-access choice does not affect the peer-review process or acceptance decision. Authors with funder mandates should confirm permitted licenses, repository options and any applicable embargo before choosing a route.
Publication Ethics and Author Responsibility
Elsevier journals operate under publisher-wide publishing ethics policies. For authors, the practical implications include submitting original work, avoiding simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to another journal, assigning authorship only to genuine contributors, disclosing competing interests and funding where required, protecting research participants and data, and obtaining permissions for reused copyrighted material.
Generative AI or language-support tools should not be used to invent evidence, citations, data or authorship. If the journal’s current policies require a declaration of AI-assisted manuscript preparation, authors should provide it accurately. Basic language editing does not transfer intellectual responsibility: the authors remain accountable for the research question, methods, data, interpretation, citations and conclusions.
Practical Journal-Fit Examples
Cross-Border Acquisition Risk
Potential fit: A study examines how political institutions affect multinational acquisition strategy across countries and develops implications for international risk theory.
Why it may fit: The international context is central to both the research question and theoretical contribution.
Domestic Employee Engagement
Potential mismatch: A single-country employee-engagement survey has no international comparison, multinational context or cross-cultural theory.
Why to reconsider: The topic may be valuable, but its primary contribution may belong in a general HRM or organizational-behavior journal.
SME Internationalization
Potential fit: A paper studies how institutional differences and resource constraints shape SME expansion into foreign markets.
Why it may fit: It directly addresses internationalization and can contribute to international-management theory.
Publication-Readiness Checklist for JIM Authors
- Can the international-management contribution be stated in two or three precise sentences?
- Does the literature review engage with international management rather than only the manuscript’s method or industry?
- Is the cross-country, cross-cultural or multinational context theoretically necessary?
- Are the research design, sample and analysis strong enough for the claims being made?
- Do tables and figures add evidence rather than duplicate the text?
- Are citations accurate, complete and traceable?
- Have all authors approved the manuscript, author order and submission?
- Have funding, competing interests, ethics and data issues been handled transparently?
- Has the current Guide for Authors been checked immediately before upload?
- Does the cover letter explain fit and contribution without making exaggerated claims?
How Contentxprtz Can Support Authors Preparing for JIM
Preparing for a journal such as the Journal of International Management involves more than correcting grammar. Authors need to make the international-management contribution visible, align the manuscript with the journal’s scope, present theory and evidence coherently, check references, and prepare submission materials that accurately represent the research.
Contentxprtz may support academic editing, manuscript editing, proofreading, ESL language polishing, journal formatting, reference and citation checking, manuscript assessment, journal-selection guidance, cover-letter editing, reviewer-response editing and publication-readiness review. Support should remain author-led and ethical: editors can improve clarity and presentation, but they should not invent data, fabricate references, create deceptive authorship or manipulate peer review.
Contentxprtz does not control editorial decisions and does not guarantee journal acceptance or publication. The purpose of professional support is to help researchers present their own work clearly, accurately and in accordance with applicable journal requirements.
Preparing a manuscript for the Journal of International Management?
Explore ethical manuscript editing and publication-readiness support while keeping authorship, evidence and final submission decisions in your control.
Summary: Journal of International Management
The Journal of International Management is an Elsevier journal focused on international management, global enterprises and international strategy. The supplied Scopus source record identifies Source ID 20633 and print ISSN 1075-4253; Elsevier lists online ISSN 1873-0620 and indexing in Scopus and SSCI.
At the time of this review, Elsevier displays a CiteScore of 10.1 and Impact Factor of 4.9, while WUR’s Journal Browser reports 2024 Scopus-derived SJR 1.685, SNIP 1.729 and Q1 placement in three relevant categories. The journal uses a hybrid publishing model, with an Elsevier-listed gold OA APC of USD 4,090 excluding taxes and a subscription route with no publication fee charged to authors.
Researchers should focus first on fit: the strongest manuscripts make a clear contribution to international-management theory or practice. Before submission, verify the latest Guide for Authors, indexing, metrics, fees, submission route and required declarations.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers are based on the journal and publisher information reviewed for this guide. Time-sensitive values should be rechecked before submission.
Is the Journal of International Management indexed in Scopus?
Yes. Elsevier’s current Journal Insights page lists Scopus among the journal’s abstracting and indexing services, and the supplied source record identifies Scopus Source ID 20633. Authors should still verify the current Scopus source profile before relying on indexing for a university, promotion, funding, or PhD requirement because database coverage can change.
What is the Scopus Source ID for the Journal of International Management?
The supplied source record gives Scopus Source ID 20633 for Journal of International Management, with print ISSN 1075-4253. This identifier is useful when distinguishing the journal from similarly named publications.
Who publishes the Journal of International Management?
The Journal of International Management is published by Elsevier. The official journal homepage and Elsevier Shop identify Elsevier as the publisher.
What research topics does the Journal of International Management cover?
Its official aims and scope focus on management of global enterprises, international management theory and practice, and international strategy. Examples named by the journal include international business strategy, comparative and cross-cultural management, risk management, organizational behavior, and human resource management.
What types of papers does the Journal of International Management publish?
The official scope states that the journal publishes theoretical and empirical research and also solicits literature reviews and critiques that help improve theory and international management research. It also welcomes contributions advancing educational methodology in international management fields. Authors should check the latest Guide for Authors for the currently enabled submission categories.
What is the current CiteScore of the Journal of International Management?
At the time this guide was prepared on 10 August 2026, Elsevier’s journal page displayed a CiteScore of 10.1. Metrics are reporting-period dependent, so authors should confirm the latest displayed value before using it in formal documentation.
What is the Impact Factor of the Journal of International Management?
At the time this guide was prepared, Elsevier’s Journal Insights page displayed an Impact Factor of 4.9. Because Journal Citation Reports values can change by annual release, researchers should verify the latest applicable JCR record when a university or funding rule depends on the metric.
Is the Journal of International Management Q1?
Wageningen University & Research’s Journal Browser reports 2024 Scopus-derived quartile information showing Q1 in Finance, Business and International Management, and Strategy and Management. Quartiles are category- and year-specific, so authors should verify the latest Scopus category ranking for the year relevant to their institution.
Is the Journal of International Management open access?
It is a hybrid journal. Elsevier offers a gold open-access option and a subscription route. The publisher states that choosing open access or subscription does not affect peer review or acceptance decisions.
How much is the open-access fee?
Elsevier currently lists an article publishing charge of USD 4,090 excluding taxes for open-access publication in this journal. The amount presented to an author can vary with agreements, affiliation, country or other eligibility, so the current personalized charge should be confirmed during submission.
Does the subscription route charge a publication fee?
Elsevier’s current journal page states that the subscription publishing option has no publication fee charged to authors. Other optional or exceptional costs should still be checked in the current author instructions.
How long does peer review take?
Elsevier’s Journal Insights currently reports median-style publishing timelines of 15 days from submission to first decision, 103 days from submission to decision after review, 422 days from submission to acceptance, and 12 days from acceptance to online publication. These are journal-level historical indicators, not promises for an individual manuscript.
What is the journal’s acceptance rate?
An official acceptance rate was not found in the authoritative sources reviewed for this guide. It should not be estimated from anecdotal reports or third-party websites.
Who should consider submitting to this journal?
Researchers whose work makes a clear contribution to international management, global strategy or closely related cross-border management questions may consider the journal. The strongest fit is likely when the manuscript speaks directly to international management theory or practice rather than merely using data from more than one country.
Can Contentxprtz guarantee acceptance in the Journal of International Management?
No. Contentxprtz can support ethical manuscript preparation, editing, journal-fit review, formatting, reference checking, cover-letter polishing and publication-readiness work, but editorial screening, peer review and acceptance decisions remain entirely with the journal.
Final Considerations Before You Submit
The Journal of International Management may be a strong option for researchers whose work makes a defensible contribution to international management, global strategy or related cross-border management questions. A good metric profile does not substitute for scope alignment, and a broad international dataset does not automatically make a manuscript suitable.
Use the official journal site to reconfirm the latest author instructions, publishing fees, indexing and submission route. Then focus on the quality of the research itself: a clear contribution, credible methods, accurate citations, transparent ethics and disciplined academic communication.
Understand the journal → evaluate fit → confirm current requirements → prepare the manuscript carefully → submit responsibly.
Dr. Michael Hartley
Dr. Michael Hartley is a research-focused writer and professional communicator who brings structure, insight, and clarity to business content. His work reflects strong analytical discipline and a practical understanding of how to communicate complex topics with confidence.