How do I use the recommended decision workflow?

Some editorial roles will be set so that they can manage the peer review process but not make editorial decisions. Instead, the handling editor is able to log a recommendation. This recommendation is directed toward an assigned Editor who does have permission to make the final decision.

Section Editor recommends a decision > Editor logs the editorial decision

The below instructions are for roles that have the following setting applied to the user settings: This role is only allowed to recommend a review decision and will require an authorised editor to record a final decision.

How does a Section Editor make a recommendation?

1. Ensure that the editor(s) you wish to submit the recommendation to is assigned to the submission as a Participant. If they are not assigned, click the ‘Assign’ button and add them.
   1. Important: if an Editor is not assigned then the email will not send
2. Click the ‘Make Recommendation’ button - this will open a new popup window
3. Select the required recommendation from: Request revisions | Resubmit for Review | Accept Submission | Decline Submission
4. Edit the resulting template email as required to provide the necessary insight and opinion so that the senior Editor is informed enough to make an editorial decision (they will have access to completed peer review forms and submissions files, as normal)
5. Click ‘Record Editorial Recommendation’ - this will email the assigned Editor(s) and alert them that they should make an editorial decision.

Notes:

#1: the ‘recommend’ functions are only available in the Review tab. If a Section Editor is assigned to an article when it is in the Submission tab then they will need to move it into Review before they can log a recommendation (i.e. they can’t make desk rejection)

#2: All Editors assigned to the submission will receive the recommendation - it is not possible to specify specific assigned Editors.

#3: Editors do not need to be assigned for the whole review process. Should an editor wish to only see the submission activity at the point of recommendation then a Section Editor can be solely assigned to complete the peer review tasks. When they are ready to make a recommendation they can then assign an Editor as a participant.

Summary:

• Click ‘Make Recommendation’

• Work through the resulting pop-up window to send the email

How does an Editor process a recommendation?

When the recommendation email is received:

1. Read through the email to assess the information from your Section Editor
   1. Should the feedback need to be discussed with the Section Editor either reply directly to the email, or use the Discussion function within the submission in the system (the latter is recommended so that the information is logged within the journal)
2. Log into the journal

3. The submission will display with an action label of ‘All recommendations are in and a decision is needed’ - click the ‘View’ button to access the submission details

   
   

   

4. Assess the review feedback, as desired, to confirm the Section Editor’s recommendation

   Log the decision as normal using the Request Revisions / Accept Submission / Decline Submission buttons.

   1. Note: the template decision email will not be affected by the Section Editor’s recommendation, so the Editor will need to edit the template and append the completed review forms, when required