1. Introduction and Scope

An AD-Minister Special Issue brings together a collection of peer-reviewed articles on a specific topic within the field of management, with particular attention to its relevance to the contexts and challenges of Colombia and the Global South. These special issues seek to address underexplored areas and stimulate new or distinctive lines of research within the Latin American and international academic community.

AD-Minister gives priority to proposals that address emerging or neglected topics, that have broad relevance for its readership, and that connect management with the specific challenges of the region. AD-Minister receives and reviews Special Issue proposals on a biannual basis, following the established format.

2. Proposal Requirements

2.1. Title of the Proposal

Expected title of the Special Issue, representative of the proposal.

2.2. Executive Summary

Clear synthesis of the proposed topic, its relevance, and its expected contribution to the field of management.

2.3. Justification and Timeliness

The proposing team must explain the current state of the topic and its importance. The proposal must show why the topic is underexplored and why this matters for the discipline. It must also demonstrate how the special issue will open new avenues of research or challenge existing ones. Potential research questions and the social relevance of the topic must be included, supported by guiding references.

2.4. Novelty and Originality

The proposal must clearly differentiate itself from previous special issues published by AD-Minister and by other journals in the field. The team must emphasize the innovative approaches and perspectives that the proposal contributes.

2.5. Suitability for AD-Minister

The proposal must align with the scope and readership of AD-Minister. It is necessary to clarify whether the topic continues or initiates a conversation within the journal, and to maintain a balance between the specificity of the topic and the breadth of the journal's readership.

The special issue should prioritize original empirical research. Well-argued theoretical contributions are also welcome when they add substantial conceptual value to the topic.

2.6. Timeline and Activities (Plan to Attract Contributors at the International Level)

The proposal must include a dissemination plan and events before or after the call for papers. The manuscript submission deadline should be set approximately twelve months after the proposal is approved. The complete process, from approval to final publication, is expected to be completed within three years of the closing of the call for papers.

2.7. Expected Volume of Contributions

The initial proposal should estimate between 12 and 15 potential contributions. Of this pool, between 6 and 10 articles are expected to reach the final version of the special issue.

2.8. Likely Pool of Contributors and Potential Reviewers

Identification of the academic community from which manuscripts are expected to be received, and of the potential external reviewers who could support the peer review process.

2.9. Proposed Team of Guest Editors

AD-Minister requires that the Editorial Team of the special issue be composed of a minimum of four guest editors. For each guest editor, name, institutional affiliation, and a curriculum vitae including prior editorial experience must be included. The team must demonstrate visibility in the proposed topic and experience in managing review processes. AD-Minister values diversity of gender, geography, and career stage within the editorial team, as well as demonstrated ability to attract quality manuscripts.

2.10. Authorship Limit for Guest Editors

Guest editors may be authors or co-authors of at most one article in the special issue, not counting the introductory editorial.

2.11. References

(Include the guiding references that support the proposal's conceptual basis).

3. Overview of the Editorial Process Following Approval

Once the proposal is approved, AD-Minister supports the guest editors through the following stages:

1. The editorial team will sign an agreement with AD-Minister regarding the expected conduct of guest editors during the process.
2. A journal editor will join the team after approval to support the preparation of the call for papers and the introductory piece.
3. All manuscripts will be managed through the AD-Minister OJS platform, and a coordination meeting will be arranged before the closing of the call for papers.
4. Guest editors will manage manuscripts from initial submission through to the final decision, with the support of the journal editor to ensure editorial consistency.
5. The journal editor must approve the decision recommended by the guest editors before it is communicated to the authors.
6. One commissioned paper is allowed, subject to prior approval by AD-Minister’s Committee.
7. Guest editors may not publish their own articles in the special issue, except for the introductory editorial.
8. A minimum of 5 articles, including the editorial, is required for publication as a full special issue. A smaller number of articles will result in a thematic section within a regular issue.

4. Operational Management of Peer Review

• • The review process must begin as soon as each manuscript is received and assigned, without waiting for the total number of contributions to be complete or for the call for papers to close.
• • Editorial decisions must be made within two months of the submission date of each manuscript, regardless of the general deadline of the call for papers.
• • When the team includes more than one guest editor, the editorial workload must be distributed equitably among all of them.
• • Every manuscript must undergo independent review by at least two experts in the field. No guest editor may act as a reviewer for a manuscript they themselves are managing.
• • Once all articles have been accepted, the guest editors will draft an editorial providing an overview of the special issue's initial goals and what was achieved, in connection with the current state of the field.
• • Guest editors may propose, together with the journal editor, the inclusion of a discussion that critically reflects on the individual articles and on the special issue as a whole.

5. Editorial Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

Each author must submit a declaration of conflicts of interest and a declaration of the study's funding sources. The special issue must include a public note on its origin and formation process.

AD-Minister requires that editorial activity comply with the integrity and objectivity standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

When the special issue has external sponsorship, the sponsor may not intervene in or influence the manuscript editing process. When third-party material is incorporated into a manuscript, the author must have obtained, prior to manuscript delivery, written permission from the corresponding rights holder.

6. Promotion of the Special Issue

AD-Minister is committed to

1. Disseminating the call for papers through the announcements section of the journal's website.
2. Disseminating the Special Issue through the journal's institutional channels.
3. Announcing the special issue once it is published.

Duties of Guest Editors

4. Sharing the call for papers within their personal and professional networks.
5. Organizing a public event (webinar, workshop, or symposium) or announcing the special issue at a public event (e.g., a conference) to help promote the call for papers.