Aim and Scope

Aims

The International Review of FinTech, Business and Management (IRFBM) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by the Academy of Decision and Data Sciences (ADDS). The journal provides a scholarly platform for the publication of original, rigorous, and practically relevant research concerning financial technology, business innovation, management practices, and the wider economic and institutional environments in which these fields operate.

IRFBM aims to advance theoretical understanding, empirical knowledge, and managerial practice by publishing research that examines how emerging technologies, changing business models, regulatory developments, and organisational capabilities are transforming financial services, enterprises, markets, and societies.

The journal encourages interdisciplinary research that connects finance, technology, economics, management, entrepreneurship, information systems, public policy, sustainability, and data science. It welcomes studies from developed, emerging, and developing economies and places particular value on research that provides comparative, international, and context-sensitive insights.

The principal aims of the journal are to:

  • Promote high-quality research in financial technology, business, and management.

  • Strengthen the connection between academic research, industry practice, and public policy.

  • Encourage the development and testing of new theories, models, methods, and analytical approaches.

  • Provide evidence on the opportunities, risks, and social consequences associated with technological and organisational change.

  • Support responsible, inclusive, sustainable, and ethical innovation.

  • Facilitate international and interdisciplinary scholarly exchange.

  • Provide a platform for researchers, practitioners, regulators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to communicate research findings and informed perspectives.

Scope

IRFBM publishes original research articles, review articles, conceptual papers, methodological studies, case studies, comparative studies, policy analyses, and other scholarly contributions within its areas of interest.

The journal welcomes submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes.

Financial Technology and Digital Finance

  • FinTech adoption, diffusion, and acceptance

  • Digital banking and branchless banking

  • Mobile banking and mobile payment systems

  • Digital wallets and payment platforms

  • Open banking and embedded finance

  • Banking-as-a-Service

  • Peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding

  • Alternative finance and digital credit

  • InsurTech and digital insurance

  • WealthTech and digital investment platforms

  • RegTech and supervisory technology

  • Financial data aggregation

  • Digital identity and electronic verification

  • Application programming interfaces in finance

  • Financial platforms and ecosystems

Blockchain and Digital Assets

  • Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies

  • Cryptocurrencies and crypto-assets

  • Central bank digital currencies

  • Stablecoins

  • Tokenisation of financial and real assets

  • Non-fungible tokens and digital ownership

  • Decentralised finance

  • Smart contracts

  • Digital asset exchanges and custody

  • Blockchain applications in banking and business

  • Regulation and governance of digital assets

  • Financial inclusion through blockchain-based services

  • Risks, volatility, security, and consumer protection in digital asset markets

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Analytics

  • Artificial intelligence in finance and management

  • Machine learning and predictive analytics

  • Generative artificial intelligence in business

  • Big data analytics

  • Business intelligence

  • Financial forecasting

  • Algorithmic trading

  • Credit scoring and risk assessment

  • Fraud detection and anti-money-laundering analytics

  • Customer analytics and personalisation

  • Natural language processing in business and finance

  • Explainable and responsible artificial intelligence

  • Ethical issues in automated decision-making

  • Data governance and algorithmic accountability

Business, Management, and Organisational Studies

  • Strategic management

  • Corporate governance

  • Organisational behaviour

  • Human resource management

  • Leadership and decision-making

  • Operations and supply chain management

  • Innovation management

  • Technology management

  • Knowledge management

  • Organisational learning

  • Digital transformation

  • Business process innovation

  • Crisis management and organisational resilience

  • Performance management

  • Corporate entrepreneurship

  • Change management

  • Project and programme management

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

  • FinTech entrepreneurship

  • Technology-based start-ups

  • Entrepreneurial ecosystems

  • Business incubation and acceleration

  • Venture capital and private equity

  • Start-up financing

  • Innovation ecosystems

  • Digital entrepreneurship

  • Social entrepreneurship

  • Women and youth entrepreneurship

  • Entrepreneurial finance

  • Business model innovation

  • Platform-based enterprises

  • Small and medium-sized enterprise development

  • Innovation policies and institutional support

Banking, Finance, and Investment

  • Banking performance and stability

  • Financial institutions and markets

  • Corporate finance

  • Behavioural finance

  • Investment management

  • Asset pricing

  • Portfolio management

  • Financial risk management

  • Islamic banking and Islamic finance

  • Microfinance and financial inclusion

  • Sustainable finance

  • Green finance

  • Climate finance

  • Socially responsible investment

  • Financial literacy and financial capability

  • Household finance

  • Corporate financial decisions

  • Financial intermediation

Accounting, Auditing, and Corporate Reporting

  • Financial accounting

  • Management accounting

  • Cost and performance accounting

  • Auditing and assurance

  • Digital accounting systems

  • Accounting information systems

  • Forensic accounting

  • Fraud examination

  • Integrated reporting

  • Sustainability reporting

  • Environmental, social, and governance disclosure

  • Corporate transparency

  • Audit technologies and analytics

  • Tax technology

  • Blockchain applications in accounting and audit

Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, and Digital Commerce

  • Digital marketing

  • Consumer behaviour

  • Electronic commerce

  • Social commerce

  • Financial services marketing

  • Customer experience

  • Customer trust and loyalty

  • Technology adoption

  • Online communities

  • Social media marketing

  • Influencer marketing

  • Branding and corporate reputation

  • Marketing analytics

  • Personalisation and recommendation systems

  • Consumer privacy

  • Service innovation

  • Platform-based consumption

Economics, Policy, and Regulation

  • Financial regulation

  • FinTech regulation

  • Regulatory sandboxes

  • Competition policy

  • Monetary and financial policy

  • Digital economy

  • Institutional economics

  • Development economics

  • Innovation policy

  • Technology policy

  • Consumer protection

  • Data protection and privacy regulation

  • Cybersecurity policy

  • Cross-border financial services

  • International financial governance

  • Taxation of digital activities

  • Public-sector digital transformation

  • Regulatory responses to emerging technologies

Sustainability and Responsible Business

  • Sustainable business models

  • Environmental, social, and governance practices

  • Corporate social responsibility

  • Responsible innovation

  • Circular economy

  • Green technologies

  • Sustainable entrepreneurship

  • Climate-related financial risks

  • Sustainable investment

  • Environmental accounting

  • Social impact finance

  • Financial technology for sustainable development

  • Digital technologies and the Sustainable Development Goals

  • Ethical finance

  • Inclusive and responsible business practices

Financial Inclusion and Socio-Economic Development

  • Access to financial services

  • Digital financial inclusion

  • Financial exclusion

  • Financial literacy

  • Inclusive banking

  • Microfinance

  • Gender and financial access

  • Rural financial services

  • Technology adoption among underserved communities

  • Poverty reduction

  • Informal economies

  • Digital remittances

  • Financial empowerment

  • FinTech and development

  • Social and economic consequences of digital finance

Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Technology Risk

  • Cybersecurity in financial institutions

  • Digital fraud

  • Identity theft

  • Data breaches

  • Financial crime

  • Anti-money laundering

  • Terrorist-financing risk

  • Technology governance

  • Operational resilience

  • Cloud computing risks

  • Privacy and data protection

  • Cyber-risk management

  • Authentication and digital identity

  • Consumer security behaviour

  • Ethical hacking and security testing

  • Technology-related systemic risk

Information Systems and Digital Transformation

  • Management information systems

  • Enterprise systems

  • Financial information systems

  • Digital platforms

  • Cloud computing

  • Internet of Things

  • Robotic process automation

  • Enterprise resource planning

  • Digital capabilities

  • Information technology governance

  • Technology alignment

  • Digital maturity

  • Platform governance

  • Information security management

  • Digital transformation in public and private organisations

Sectoral and Interdisciplinary Applications

The journal also welcomes research examining FinTech, business, and management issues in sectors such as:

  • Banking and financial services

  • Insurance

  • Tourism and hospitality

  • Healthcare

  • Education

  • Agriculture

  • Manufacturing

  • Retail

  • Logistics

  • Energy

  • Real estate

  • Public administration

  • Telecommunications

  • Creative industries

  • Non-profit and social enterprises

Research Approaches

IRFBM welcomes diverse and rigorous methodological approaches, including:

  • Quantitative research

  • Qualitative research

  • Mixed-methods studies

  • Econometric analysis

  • Structural equation modelling

  • Experimental and quasi-experimental research

  • Longitudinal and panel-data studies

  • Cross-country comparative analysis

  • Systematic literature reviews

  • Meta-analyses

  • Bibliometric studies

  • Case studies

  • Design science research

  • Computational research

  • Machine-learning applications

  • Policy evaluation

  • Conceptual and theoretical development

All submissions must demonstrate methodological appropriateness, transparency, ethical compliance, and a clear contribution to existing knowledge.

Geographical Coverage

IRFBM has a global orientation and accepts research from all geographical regions.

The journal particularly encourages:

  • International and cross-country studies

  • Research from emerging and developing economies

  • Comparative studies across institutional settings

  • Studies addressing under-researched countries, industries, and populations

  • Research with implications beyond a single local context

Single-country studies are welcome where they provide strong theoretical, methodological, policy, or practical contributions.

Intended Readership

The journal is intended for:

  • Academics and researchers

  • Doctoral and postgraduate students

  • Financial institutions

  • FinTech firms

  • Entrepreneurs and start-up founders

  • Business executives and managers

  • Regulators and central banks

  • Government agencies

  • Investors and financial professionals

  • Consultants

  • Technology specialists

  • Development organisations

  • Policymakers

Types of Contributions

IRFBM considers:

  • Original research articles

  • Review articles

  • Systematic literature reviews

  • Meta-analyses

  • Conceptual and theoretical papers

  • Methodological papers

  • Case studies

  • Comparative studies

  • Policy analyses

  • Research notes

  • Practitioner perspectives

  • Book reviews

  • Editorials and invited commentaries

Acceptance is based on originality, relevance, methodological quality, ethical compliance, clarity, and contribution to scholarship or practice.

Out-of-Scope Submissions

The journal does not normally consider:

  • Manuscripts that fall outside FinTech, business, finance, economics, management, or related interdisciplinary fields.

  • Papers lacking a clear research question or scholarly contribution.

  • Purely descriptive reports without analytical or theoretical value.

  • Promotional or commercially driven content.

  • Manuscripts based on fabricated, unverifiable, or inadequately documented evidence.

  • Submissions that do not comply with research and publication ethics.

  • Previously published or simultaneously submitted manuscripts.

  • Papers relying on pseudoscientific claims or unsupported conclusions.

Overall Editorial Focus

IRFBM seeks to publish research that is theoretically informed, methodologically rigorous, ethically conducted, internationally relevant, and capable of contributing to academic knowledge, responsible management practice, technological innovation, and effective public policy.