Scandinavian Journal of Management: Scopus, Scope & Submission Guide
Scandinavian Journal of Management is an international management journal published by Elsevier under the Pergamon imprint, with a scope that deliberately reaches beyond one geography or one narrow management subfield. Researchers commonly evaluate it for three reasons: its coverage in major databases such as Scopus and the Social Sciences Citation Index, its openness to empirical, theoretical and methodological work, and its stated interest in research that challenges established management knowledge rather than merely applying familiar models in a technical way.
The journal can be relevant to scholars studying organizations, strategy, leadership, entrepreneurship, institutional processes, work, management ideas, organizational change and related topics, including research that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Its official scope places unusual emphasis on three ideas—openness, reasoned reflexivity and contextual awareness—which makes manuscript fit more nuanced than simply matching a keyword such as “management.” A technically competent paper may still be a weak fit if it does not show why its problem matters for broader understanding of management and organization.
For journal-selection decisions, indexing and metrics are only part of the picture. The live official journal page should be read alongside the current Guide for Authors and the Scopus source profile. This guide separates verified journal facts from practical editorial interpretation so that authors can decide whether the journal suits their manuscript without assuming that indexing or citation indicators alone predict acceptance.
Quick Answer: What Is Scandinavian Journal of Management?
Scandinavian Journal of Management (SJM) is a peer-reviewed management journal from Elsevier/Pergamon that publishes original work intended to deepen understanding of management across many forms of organization. The journal was founded in 1984 and has developed as an international outlet rather than a publication restricted to research about Scandinavia. The publisher describes “Scandinavian” as a state of mind associated with openness, reflexivity and contextual awareness.
It is indexed in Scopus and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Elsevier lists Applied Psychology and Strategy and Management as its subject areas. The supplied Scopus source record identifies Source ID 23064. Researchers whose doctoral programme, promotion framework or funding rules require Scopus or Web of Science coverage should still verify the live database record immediately before submission, because indexing classifications and metrics can change.
Key Takeaways for Prospective Authors
- Publisher: Elsevier, with Pergamon shown as the journal imprint.
- Identifiers: ISSN 0956-5221; online ISSN 1873-3387; Scopus Source ID 23064.
- Scope: broad management and organization research, including empirical, theoretical and methodological contributions.
- Indexing: Elsevier lists Scopus and SSCI, along with SJR, SNIP and ABDC-related coverage information.
- Publishing model: hybrid—open access is available for an APC, while the subscription route carries no publication fee.
- Fit matters: the journal explicitly discourages narrow technical discussions that matter only to a specific subfield.
- Editorial orientation: work should show conceptual value, reflexivity and awareness of social, organizational or natural context.
- No acceptance shortcut: neither a strong metric nor professional editing can guarantee peer-review success.
Journal Information at a Glance
The stable identifiers below are supported by Elsevier, the ISSN record and the supplied Scopus source record. Time-sensitive items are marked so that readers know what should be rechecked.
| Field | Journal information |
|---|---|
| Journal name | Scandinavian Journal of Management |
| Source type | Journal |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Publisher imprint | Pergamon |
| ISSN / ISSN-L | 0956-5221 |
| Online ISSN | 1873-3387 |
| Scopus Source ID | 23064 |
| Country in ISSN record | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Publication frequency | Quarterly (4 issues per year) |
| Established | 1984, according to the official journal description |
| Scopus | Indexed; verify live coverage dates in Scopus |
| Web of Science | Elsevier lists Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) |
| Subject areas | Applied Psychology; Strategy and Management |
| Open access | Hybrid / supports open access |
| Official journal site | ScienceDirect journal page |
| Author instructions | Guide for Authors |
Editorial leadership: the official editorial-board page reviewed for this guide lists S. Elias, PhD (University of Victoria, Canada) and T. Jensen (Stockholm University, Sweden) as Editors-in-Chief. Because editorial roles can change, authors should confirm the current editorial board before relying on named appointments.
The journal was formerly known as Scandinavian Journal of Management Studies. Its current ISSN record can be checked through the ISSN International Centre, while Web of Science coverage can be checked through Clarivate's Master Journal List.
How This Guide Was Researched
This profile prioritises the official ScienceDirect journal pages, Elsevier journal information, the ISSN International Centre record, the supplied Scopus source identifier and Clarivate-linked journal information. Recent journal issues were also used to understand the types of work visibly appearing in the publication. Metrics, fees, editorial teams, submission systems and database classifications are time-sensitive; authors should reconfirm them on the official source immediately before making a formal submission or an institutional eligibility claim.
Scandinavian Journal of Management Aims and Scope
The journal's central aim is to provide an international forum for multifaceted management research and to encourage work that challenges existing knowledge. It publishes original empirical, theoretical and methodological material that contributes to understanding management in organizations of many kinds—large or small, private or public, nonprofit or for-profit, entrepreneurial, craft- or arts-based, and community-based.
That breadth does not mean that every business paper is automatically in scope. The official description welcomes different methodologies, epistemologies and ontological positions, including non-mainstream approaches, while warning that narrow technical discussions relevant only to a particular subfield may not proceed to peer review. In practical terms, a manuscript should not merely demonstrate a technique or report a local correlation; it should show what the evidence changes, complicates or clarifies about management or organizational life.
Three ideas that shape the journal's editorial identity
- Openness: curiosity-driven research, interdisciplinary thinking and novel ways of investigating management-related phenomena are encouraged.
- Reasoned reflexivity: researchers are expected to think seriously about the epistemological, ontological and methodological foundations of their work, including their own positioning and influence.
- Contextual awareness: management is treated as embedded in society and nature, so authors are encouraged to consider consequences, context and the wider settings in which management practices operate.
This orientation can suit qualitative, interpretive, critical, processual and interdisciplinary scholarship particularly well, but the journal also remains open to classical approaches when authors demonstrate their contribution convincingly.
What Subjects and Research Themes Does the Journal Cover?
Elsevier classifies the journal under Applied Psychology and Strategy and Management, but its actual content is wider than those two labels. Recent issues show research on leadership, corporate social responsibility, family-business succession, entrepreneurship, temporary organizations, crisis organizing, employee well-being, ethics education and organizational practices. Special collections have addressed uncertainty and risk, practice-based entrepreneuring, temporary organizations and management theory.
| Potentially strong fit | Fit depends on framing | Potentially weak fit |
|---|---|---|
| Organization theory, leadership, institutional processes, work and organizing, entrepreneurship, strategic management, organizational change, ethics, sustainability and management-society relations | Human resources, accounting, marketing, operations, information systems or sector-specific management studies that make a broader management contribution | Highly technical optimization, engineering, finance or analytics papers whose contribution is confined to a specialist technique with little management-theory or organizational relevance |
| Empirical studies with strong contextual analysis | Single-country or single-firm studies if the paper develops transferable conceptual insight | Descriptive case reports that do not explain what is learned beyond the immediate setting |
| Theoretical or methodological work that challenges assumptions | Replication or established-model studies where the context meaningfully changes interpretation | Routine application of a familiar model without a distinctive research problem or contribution |
These fit examples are editorial interpretation rather than official acceptance rules. The strongest check is to compare your paper with several recent articles and ask whether your research question, theoretical conversation, methodology and contribution would make sense to the journal's current readership.
Understanding Scopus Indexing and Journal Metrics
Scandinavian Journal of Management is listed by Elsevier as indexed in Scopus and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). The Scopus Source ID supplied with this task is 23064. Elsevier also lists SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), SNIP and the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) among the journal's abstracting/indexing information.
| Indicator | Verified information | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Scopus | Indexed; Source ID 23064 | Check live coverage if your institution requires a currently active Scopus source. |
| SSCI | Listed by Elsevier | Relevant where institutions recognise Web of Science Social Sciences Citation Index coverage. |
| CiteScore | Elsevier page reviewed displayed 4.2 | Verify the reporting year and latest value in Scopus before citing it. |
| Impact Factor | Elsevier page reviewed displayed 2.5 | Verify the latest year-specific Journal Impact Factor in Journal Citation Reports. |
| SJR / SNIP | Metric families are listed by Elsevier; current values not displayed on the official page reviewed | Use the latest database interface if a numerical SJR or SNIP value is required. |
| Quartile | Verify current category-specific quartile | Quartiles differ by database, year and subject category; do not cite an undated Q-ranking. |
At the time this guide was prepared, the Elsevier journal page displayed a CiteScore of 4.2 and an Impact Factor of 2.5, but the accessible official page did not expose a reporting year for those displayed values. Because 2025/2026 metric releases can supersede earlier figures, this page intentionally does not assign a year that was not directly verified. Authors preparing PhD, promotion or funding documentation should retrieve the latest value from the database their institution actually uses.
What Does the Journal Publish?
The official scope explicitly supports original empirical, theoretical and methodological material. Current and recent journal pages prominently label research articles, and past/recent issues also show discussion pieces, commentary-style content and book reviews. This indicates an editorial ecosystem broader than one standard article format, but not every category is necessarily open for unsolicited submission at all times.
Before preparing a non-standard contribution, check the live Guide for Authors or contact the journal through its official channels. Do not infer an available submission category merely because a similar item appeared in a historical issue or special collection.
Is This Journal a Good Match for Your Research?
A promising manuscript for Scandinavian Journal of Management normally does more than mention management. It should engage a meaningful management or organization problem, make a contribution that can travel beyond the immediate dataset, and show why the chosen theoretical and methodological approach is appropriate for the question.
Questions to ask before choosing the journal
- Does the paper explain a management or organizational phenomenon rather than merely report a technical result?
- Can the contribution be connected to conversations visible in recent SJM articles?
- Does the manuscript demonstrate contextual awareness rather than treating the organization as isolated from society, institutions or nature?
- Does the methods section explain researcher positioning and interpretive choices where those matter?
- Would readers in management and organization studies care about the finding even if they work in a different country or sector?
- Is the work sufficiently developed to challenge, refine or extend knowledge rather than simply confirm a familiar relationship?
A paper can be methodologically rigorous and still be a poor journal fit. Conversely, a locally grounded study can fit well if it uses context to produce a broader conceptual contribution.
Preparing and Submitting a Manuscript
The safest submission workflow begins with the current official author instructions. Exact word limits, file requirements, reference formatting and declaration requirements can change, and the authoritative guide—not a third-party summary—should control the final format.
Manuscript preparation priorities
- State the management problem clearly. The introduction should establish the phenomenon, why it matters, and the scholarly conversation the paper changes.
- Make the contribution explicit. Explain what readers understand differently after seeing the study.
- Show methodological fit and reflexivity. Especially for qualitative or interpretive work, explain research positioning, access, analysis and the consequences of methodological choices.
- Connect context to theory. Do not treat social, institutional, environmental or sector context as background decoration.
- Use recent journal literature intelligently. Recent SJM papers can help authors understand current conversations, but citations should be included only when substantively relevant.
- Check every submission component. Title page, abstract, keywords, tables, figures, declarations, funding information, data statements and references should match the live instructions.
| Check | Ready when... |
|---|---|
| Scope fit | The manuscript addresses a management/organization problem and explains its broader relevance. |
| Contribution | The paper clearly states what it adds to theory, method or understanding. |
| Context | The organizational and societal setting is analytically meaningful. |
| Methods | Design, sampling, analysis and researcher role are transparent enough to evaluate. |
| Language | The argument is readable, precise and consistent in English. |
| References | In-text citations and reference list agree and follow the current journal style. |
| Ethics and declarations | Authorship, conflicts, funding, human-participant requirements and data statements are handled as applicable. |
| Files | All required submission files follow the current Guide for Authors. |
What Happens After You Submit?
Submissions typically pass through editorial screening before external peer review. The journal's stated scope makes the desk-screening stage especially important: a paper may be methodologically competent yet still be screened out if it is too technically narrow or insufficiently connected to the journal's management conversation. The exact review model should be confirmed in the current author instructions; this guide does not assume a blind-review format that was not directly verified from the accessible official material.
Elsevier's journal insights displayed historical journal-level timing indicators of 8 days from submission to first decision, 145 days from submission to decision after review, 561 days from submission to acceptance, and 22 days from acceptance to online publication. These statistics can help with planning, but they are not promises. A manuscript requiring multiple revisions, specialist reviewers or additional editorial consideration may take much more or less time.
An official acceptance rate was not found in the authoritative sources reviewed, so this guide does not estimate one.
Open Access, APCs and the Subscription Route
Scandinavian Journal of Management uses a hybrid publishing model. Elsevier's page offers an open-access option and a subscription option. For open access, the page reviewed for this guide displayed an article publishing charge of USD 3,090 excluding taxes, with a note that the amount may be reduced during submission when applicable. Under the subscription route, Elsevier states that there is no publication fee charged to authors, while access is provided to subscribers.
Authors should check institutional agreements, funder mandates and the journal's current open-access policy before choosing a route. The APC is not an acceptance fee and payment does not influence whether a manuscript passes editorial or peer review.
Publication Ethics and Responsible Research Practice
As an Elsevier journal, Scandinavian Journal of Management operates within Elsevier's publishing ethics and author-policy framework. Authors should expect requirements around originality, proper acknowledgement of sources, disclosure of competing interests, accurate reporting, authorship responsibility and research involving human participants where applicable. Elsevier also provides guidance on the use of generative AI in manuscript writing: such tools may assist readability under human oversight, but authors remain responsible for accuracy, integrity and disclosure requirements.
Before submission, review the journal's Guide for Authors and Elsevier's author policies and guidelines. Do not fabricate data, citations, reviewer identities or authorship contributions. Professional editing should improve the communication of the author's own research, not conceal inappropriate authorship or manufacture scholarly content.
Why Manuscripts May Be Unsuitable
Based on the journal's stated scope, several problems can weaken fit before the details of peer review are even considered. A manuscript may be unsuitable when it is narrowly technical, lacks a clear management contribution, treats its organizational setting as incidental, or reproduces a familiar model without showing why the context changes what scholars should understand.
Other common publication-readiness weaknesses are general rather than journal-specific: an unclear research question, weak connection between literature and methods, overclaiming from limited data, poor explanation of sampling or analysis, inconsistent references, or conclusions that repeat results without developing implications. Addressing these issues does not guarantee acceptance, but it makes editorial evaluation of the research more straightforward.
Recent Research Gives Useful Clues About Fit
Recent journal pages show work on leadership, employee well-being, ethics education, corporate social responsibility, family-business succession, crisis organizing and temporary organizations, along with theoretical discussions in entrepreneurship and management. Special collections also demonstrate continuing interest in organization theory, practice-based research, uncertainty and risk, and the relationship between management ideas and wider social contexts.
Use recent issues as a diagnostic tool rather than a citation checklist. Read several papers with similar methods or theoretical concerns and note how they frame the research problem, develop the contribution and connect context to management theory. If your manuscript would feel conceptually isolated from the journal's current conversations, another outlet may be more appropriate even when the broad subject label appears to match.
How Contentxprtz Can Support Publication Readiness
Preparing for Scandinavian Journal of Management involves more than correcting grammar. Authors may need to sharpen the research contribution, improve argument flow, align the manuscript with the journal's scope, check references, strengthen tables and figures, and make submission documents consistent with the current author instructions.
Contentxprtz can provide ethical support such as journal publication-readiness support, manuscript assessment, academic editing, proofreading, journal formatting, reference consistency checks, cover-letter editing and reviewer-response editing. The purpose is to help authors communicate their own work clearly and responsibly. Contentxprtz does not control editorial decisions, cannot influence reviewers and does not guarantee journal acceptance or publication.
Preparing a manuscript for Scandinavian Journal of Management?
Get support with manuscript clarity, journal alignment, formatting, references and submission readiness while keeping authorship, research responsibility and editorial decisions where they belong.
Summary: Scandinavian Journal of Management
Scandinavian Journal of Management is an Elsevier/Pergamon management journal with an international scope and a distinctive editorial emphasis on openness, reflexivity and context. It accepts original empirical, theoretical and methodological work that advances understanding of management across diverse organizational forms. It is indexed in Scopus and SSCI; the supplied Scopus Source ID is 23064. The journal is quarterly, uses ISSN 0956-5221 and online ISSN 1873-3387, and supports both open-access and subscription publishing.
At the time of verification, Elsevier displayed a CiteScore of 4.2, an Impact Factor of 2.5 and an open-access APC of USD 3,090 excluding taxes. Because these figures are time-sensitive, confirm the latest reporting year, quartile, SJR/SNIP values, fee and submission requirements on the official journal and database pages. The most important selection question remains manuscript fit: the paper should make a substantive management contribution rather than present a narrowly technical result.
Professional editing or publication-readiness support can improve clarity, structure and compliance, but it cannot substitute for research quality or predict the journal's editorial decision.
Scandinavian Journal of Management is most worth considering when the manuscript has a genuine management or organization contribution and can engage the journal's preference for openness, reflexivity and contextual awareness. Its Scopus and SSCI coverage may matter for institutional recognition, but database status should support—not replace—a careful fit assessment. Before submitting, recheck the live Guide for Authors, database coverage, current metrics, APC and editorial information, then make sure the manuscript explains clearly why its findings matter beyond the immediate case.
Final Journal-Selection Perspective
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scandinavian Journal of Management?
Scandinavian Journal of Management is a peer-reviewed management journal published by Elsevier under the Pergamon imprint. Its official scope presents it as an international forum for empirical, theoretical and methodological work that improves understanding of management across many types of organizations.
Who publishes Scandinavian Journal of Management?
The journal is published by Elsevier. Elsevier's journal-insights page identifies the publishing imprint as Pergamon, and the ISSN record also associates the title with Elsevier and the Pergamon brand.
Is Scandinavian Journal of Management indexed in Scopus?
Yes. Elsevier lists Scopus among the journal's abstracting and indexing services. The supplied Scopus source record identifies Source ID 23064. Authors whose university requires Scopus coverage should still check the live Scopus source profile before submission because database coverage can change.
What is the Scopus Source ID of Scandinavian Journal of Management?
The supplied source record gives Scopus Source ID 23064 for Scandinavian Journal of Management. The identifier should be used together with the journal title and ISSNs to distinguish the correct source from similarly named publications.
What are the ISSN and EISSN of Scandinavian Journal of Management?
The linking/print ISSN is 0956-5221 and the online ISSN is 1873-3387. These identifiers are confirmed by Elsevier and the ISSN International Centre.
What subjects does Scandinavian Journal of Management cover?
Elsevier lists Applied Psychology and Strategy and Management as subject areas. The journal's broader scope includes management and organization questions across private, public, nonprofit, entrepreneurial, community and other organizational settings, with room for interdisciplinary and non-mainstream approaches.
What are the current CiteScore and Impact Factor?
At the time this guide was prepared on 10 August 2026, the Elsevier journal page available for verification displayed a CiteScore of 4.2 and an Impact Factor of 2.5. Because citation metrics update on reporting cycles, authors should verify the latest year-specific values in Scopus and Journal Citation Reports before using them for institutional decisions.
What is the current quartile, SJR or SNIP?
Elsevier confirms that the journal is represented in SJR and SNIP-related indexing information, but the official Elsevier page reviewed for this guide did not display a year-specific quartile, SJR value or SNIP value. Verify those figures in the current Scopus/SCImago or other institutional metric interface before relying on them.
Is Scandinavian Journal of Management open access?
The journal follows a hybrid model. Authors can choose an open-access route with an article publishing charge, while the subscription route does not charge a publication fee and makes the article available to subscribers.
What is the publication fee or APC?
Elsevier's journal page displayed an open-access APC of USD 3,090 excluding taxes when this guide was prepared. The page notes that the amount may be reduced during submission where applicable. Fees can change, so authors should confirm the current amount and any agreement or waiver eligibility on the official journal site.
What types of manuscripts does Scandinavian Journal of Management publish?
The journal explicitly welcomes original empirical, theoretical and methodological management research. Recent and historical issues also show research articles, discussion pieces and book reviews. Authors should use the current Guide for Authors to confirm which article categories are open for new submissions at the time they submit.
How long does peer review take?
Elsevier's journal insights displayed indicative publishing statistics of 8 days from submission to first decision, 145 days to decision after review, 561 days from submission to acceptance and 22 days from acceptance to online publication. These are journal-level historical indicators, not guarantees for an individual manuscript.
What is the acceptance rate of Scandinavian Journal of Management?
An official acceptance rate was not identified in the authoritative sources reviewed for this guide. It should not be estimated from anecdotal reports or third-party websites.
Is Scandinavian Journal of Management suitable for PhD researchers?
It may be suitable when a doctoral research paper makes a clear management contribution and aligns with the journal's emphasis on openness, reflexivity and contextual awareness. PhD requirements vary, so candidates should also confirm whether their university recognises the journal's current indexing and category status.
Can Contentxprtz guarantee acceptance in Scandinavian Journal of Management?
No. Contentxprtz can support ethical manuscript assessment, academic editing, proofreading, formatting, reference consistency, cover-letter editing and publication-readiness checks. Editorial decisions, peer review and acceptance remain entirely with the journal.
