OSCM Journal Processing Times 2025
We are publishing our manuscript processing data for 405 submissions received between January 2025 and February 2026. These numbers are not yet where we want them to be, and we share them openly, both as a baseline and as a responsibility to the community we serve. OSCM Journal scholars deserve a publishing experience that respects their time and effort, and we still have work to do on that front.
Figure 1. Distribution of manuscript processing times across three stages: (a) time to first editorial decision, (b) submission to acceptance, and (c) acceptance to publication. Vertical lines indicate medians. Data cover 405 submissions received between January 2025 and February 2026.
The median time to first decision is 11 days, with over 80% of authors receiving a response within 30 days. While this is an encouraging start for a journal that runs entirely on volunteer effort, we are mindful that every day an author waits is a day that matters. Whether the outcome is a desk rejection or advancement to review, a prompt signal helps authors plan their next steps, and we want to keep improving here.
Among the 73 manuscripts that have reached acceptance, the median time from submission to acceptance is 60 days (average 74 days, standard deviation = 79 days). The spread is wide, reflecting the realities of multi-round peer review. Quick acceptances in the first two weeks consist primarily of invited contributions, while the longer tail represents papers that went through the full revision cycle. We are candid that the long tail, where some authors wait over 200 days, is not acceptable and needs to be addressed.
Once accepted, the median time to publication is 55 days. About 59% of accepted papers are published within 60 days, but the remaining 41% experience delays that we take seriously. This post-acceptance stage is where we see the most room for improvement.
Approximately one in four manuscripts (25.6%) that reached a terminal decision was accepted. At present, 77 manuscripts remain in active review or revision.
Going forward, we will continue targeting a median first decision under 7 days, work to reduce variance in the submission-to-acceptance window through clearer reviewer timelines and structured reminders, and set a 30-day target for the post-acceptance stage. None of this is possible without the generosity of our reviewers, editorial board members, and the authors who continue to trust OSCM Journal with their work. We remain committed to earning that trust and will publish updated data annually.
OSCM Journal Editorial Team, February 28, 2026
