How Do I Use the ABDC Journal List to Choose the Right Journal for My Management Research?

“You have completed your management research paper. But how do you know which journal is actually right for it?”

Completing your research paper is quite an accomplishment. The choice on how you will get it published is the next significant step.

A lot of authors share the same mistake. They do not take the time to check if the journal they want to publish in is relevant to their research. They just search for a high-ranking journal and submit their research.

But it is always a better move if you take into account the ABDC journal list and then consider the journal’s focus, scope, recent publications, quality, indexing, and institutional policies.

A Simple Journal Selection Process

Think of journal selection as a step-by-step journey rather than a race toward the highest ranking.

What Is the ABDC Journal List?

Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List is one of the tools that may be used when evaluating scholarly journals in the context of business and management research. Journals ranked into A*, A, B, and C.

This ranking system can be beneficial for a researcher who wants to evaluate the status of a particular journal in his/her area of expertise.

Nevertheless, ranking of a journal is not the sole criteria you should consider.

Review by ABDC has also taken into account the quality of journals, classification, new inclusion, exclusion, and issues related to potential predatory journals. The review of 2025 was the last major review done after 2019.

Therefore, one should check the most recent available data before using any old list or spreadsheet.

Step 1: Start With Your Research Topic

Before searching for journals, look closely at your own paper.

Imagine your research studies how transformational leadership affects employee performance in Indian IT companies.

Your research may connect with:

• Human resource management

• Leadership

• Organisational behaviour

• Employee performance

• Management

• Information systems

This gives you a much better starting point than simply searching for an A* journal.

Match the journal with your research area

Research area	Topics you may find in relevant journals
Marketing	Consumer behaviour, branding, advertising, digital marketing
Finance	Banking, investment, financial markets, corporate finance
Human Resources	Leadership, employees, talent, workplace behaviour
Strategy	Competitive strategy, firms, business performance
Accounting	Auditing, reporting, management accounting
Operations	Supply chain, logistics, productivity
Entrepreneurship	Start-ups, innovation, entrepreneurial activity

Topic fit should come before ranking.

Step 2: Understand the ABDC Ranking

Once you know your research area, look at the ABDC journal ranking.

The categories provide a useful indication of how journals are positioned within their respective fields.

Category	Simple meaning	What researchers should consider
A*	Highest category	Highly competitive and selective
A	Strong category	High-quality research outlet
B	Established category	Recognised publication option
C	Listed category	May be suitable depending on requirements

A higher category does not automatically mean a better choice for your manuscript.

For example, an A* journal focusing mainly on financial markets may be unsuitable for a study about employee motivation. A lower-category journal with an excellent subject fit could be a more sensible target.

The question is not:

“Which journal has the highest category?”

It is:

“Which suitable journal gives my research a realistic opportunity to be read, reviewed, and published?”

Step 3: Check the ABDC Journal Category and Journal Scope

After identifying potential journals, read their aims and scope carefully.

Then look at several recently published papers.

Ask yourself:

• Does the journal publish research similar to my work?

• Does it use similar research methods?

• Does it publish studies from my subject area?

• Would its readers be interested in my findings?

• Does my research contribution fit the journal?

This is one of the most effective methods of minimizing the chances of rejection at the desk.

Even if a journal is ranked highly in some list, your research may still be out of scope for its audience.

Step 4: Build a Shortlist

Do not select one journal and immediately submit.

Create a shortlist of three to five relevant ABDC management journals.

A simple structure can make the decision easier:

Journal option	Purpose
Ambitious	Strong fit but highly competitive
Target	Good fit with realistic expectations
Backup	Suitable alternative if your first choice does not work

Then compare the journals using the same criteria.

Factor	What to check
Research fit	Does the journal publish your topic?
Category	Does it meet your requirements?
Recent papers	Are similar studies being published?
Methodology	Does the journal accept your approach?
Audience	Will your research interest its readers?
Fees	Are publication charges manageable?
Timeline	Does the publication schedule suit you?
Institutional rules	Does it meet your university's requirements?

This turns journal selection into a practical decision instead of guesswork.

Step 5: Do Not Confuse ABDC With Scopus

You may come across the term ABDC indexed journals while searching for publication options.

It is important to understand that ABDC and Scopus are not the same system.

ABDC	Scopus
Journal quality list	Abstract and citation database
Strong focus on business-related disciplines	Multidisciplinary
Uses A*, A, B and C categories	Does not use the ABDC category system
Helps assess journal standing	Helps with indexing and citation visibility

A journal can appear in both systems, but one does not automatically guarantee the other.

If your university requires both ABDC and Scopus, verify both independently.

Step 6: Look Beyond the Ranking

The ABDC Journal Quality of a publication is useful information, but it does not guarantee that your paper will be accepted.

Editors and reviewers also consider:

• Originality

• Research question

• Theoretical contribution

• Methodological strength

• Data quality

• Writing quality

• Journal fit

• Practical or academic contribution

This is why researchers should avoid choosing a journal only because it has an impressive label.

What should you check before submitting?

Check	Why it matters
Journal scope	Confirms research relevance
Recent publications	Shows current interests
ISSN	Confirms the exact journal
Publisher	Helps verify journal identity
Peer review	Shows how manuscripts are evaluated
Publication fees	Prevents unexpected costs
Indexing	Confirms additional requirements
Author guidelines	Helps avoid formatting problems
Institutional rules	Confirms academic eligibility

Should You Always Choose an A* Journal?

Not necessarily.

ABDC A journals* are highly competitive. They can be excellent targets for research that has strong originality, methodology, theoretical contribution, and a very close subject fit.

The same principle applies to ABDC A journals. A strong A journal can be an excellent choice when its readership and scope closely match your research.

ABDC B journals can also be appropriate when they meet your institutional requirements and provide strong subject alignment.

Similarly, ABDC C journals should not automatically be dismissed. Their suitability depends on your publication objective and the rules that apply to you.

Your target should be ambitious but realistic.

How to Verify a Journal Before Submission

Finding a journal is only half the job. You should also verify it.

Check:

1. Exact journal title

2. ISSN

3. Publisher

4. Current ABDC status

5. Subject or field classification

6. Official journal website

7. Peer-review policy

8. Other indexing claims

9. Publication fees

10. Your university's current requirements

This is especially important when you find a journal through an unofficial list, social media post, advertisement, or old PDF.

Never assume that a claim about indexing or ranking is correct simply because it appears on a website.

How to Publish in an ABDC Journal

If you are wondering how to publish in ABDC journal, the process should begin with journal selection rather than at the final submission stage.

First, identify suitable journals. Then study their recent articles and author guidelines.

Secondly, organize your manuscript according to the journal’s requirements. This includes the manuscript’s format, referencing style, word count, figures, tables, ethical considerations, and submission process.

Finally, proofread the manuscript to ensure that all requirements have been met.

Lastly, submit through the official channel of the journal and get ready for editing, peer review, and finally a decision.

There is no shortcut at all to get accepted.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing Only based on category alone: A good ranking will not compensate for journal suitability.

• Based on an old list: Status and categories may vary. Check the most up-to-date information.

• Considering that ABDC equals Scopus: These are independent systems that serve different purposes.

• Neglecting the latest issues: Latest papers tell you what the journal is publishing now.

• Selecting journals out of your discipline: Your paper requires the appropriate readership and not just a prestigious name.

• Not considering your institution’s guidelines: Your institution may require certain policies to be met.

Final Checklist

Before submitting your management research, ask:

• Does the journal match my research topic?

• Does its scope fit my study?

• Have I checked recent papers?

• Is the category suitable for my requirements?

• Have I verified the ISSN and publisher?

• Have I checked other indexing requirements?

• Have I checked publication fees?

• Have I read the author guidelines?

• Does the journal meet my institutional rules?

• Is this a realistic target for my manuscript?

If you can confidently answer “yes” to most of these questions, you have a much stronger basis for submission.

Final Takeaway

The ABDC journal list should be treated as a researcher's starting point, not a shortcut.

Begin with identifying your research topic. Identify journals that have published research in this field. Evaluate them on the basis of their categories, scope, recent publications, guidelines, and submission policies. Shortlist them and select the journal which gives you the best match for relevance and credibility.

It does not always mean that the best journal is the highest-ranking journal.

It may well be the one in which your research belongs.