Author Guidelines
Guidelines for authors
1. Basic rules
Submission to this journal proceeds online.
Authors are welcome to send their manuscripts in English.
You can use the Template Word provided for the proper page, text and reference list layout.
Compliance with the Author Guidelines will greatly speed up the time of revision and publication. If the manuscript significantly differs from the Author Guidelines, it will not be published.
2. Facilities
In order to support the authors in preparing their manuscript one provides a Template Word that can be used for proper editing settings.
3. Article organization
The paper must contain the following elements in order:
- Title.
- Abstract (in English, about 300 words, max 1000 characters, spaces included) according to the scheme shown in the Template Word (purpose, design/methodology/approach, findings, practical and social implication, originality of the study).
- Keywords (a minimum of three and a maximum of six).
- Text article.
- References.
References must be placed at the end of the text. They should be listed in alphabetical order and, for authors with multiple references, ordered chronologically. References must be formatted according to the APA style. The inclusion of the DOI (digital object identifier) is required. It goes at the end of your reference, no period at the end. DOI must always be presented as a hyperlink in this format: https://doi.org/xxxxxx
The paper must not exceed a total of 22 pages.
Information related to the paragraphs attribution and "Acknowledgments" can be added only after the acceptance of the paper. They should be placed before the references under the title “Acknowledgments.”
4. File format
The file must be uploaded to the Journal's website in .doc or .docx format. Other formats must be agreed with the Managing Editor.
The file must not exceed 500 Kbytes.
5. Page format and Margins
In drafting the manuscript, consider an A4 page (cm 21x29.7) with the following margins:
- Higher: 5.05
- Lower: 5.05
- Right: 4.15
- Left: 4.15
6. Font or text style settings
Title ARIAL, 12pt, CAPS, bold, centered alignment
Subtitle: Arial, 12pt, italic, bold, justified alignment
Sub-subtitle: Arial, 12pt, italic, regular, justified alignment
Body of the Text: Arial, 12pt, regular, justified alignment
Footnotes: Arial, 10pt, regular, justified alignment
Abstract: Arial, 10pt, regular, justified alignment
References: Arial, 10pt, regular, justified alignment
Captions: Arial, 8pt, italics, justified alignment
Source: Arial, 8pt, italics, justified alignment
Table text: Arial, 8pt, regular, justified alignment
7. Other indications of characters or styles of the text
The body of the text must be justified, and set with "Return" 0, "First line" and "Return" 0.5.
All styles must have a single line spacing.
Always enter the automatic hyphenation of the text.
Never leave a white line between one paragraph and another.
In the article the underlined must not be used.
Bold must not be used in the body of the text.
The numerical values (percentages, averages, significance,) with decimal values must be inserted with the initial zero followed by the point and not the comma (Ex .: p. = 0.08; average 0.45 or 0.98%). A value like 0,5 will be considered incorrect.
Footnotes should be used only for comments, in-depth analysis, further reflections and not for bibliographical references.
To insert references to tables and / or figures in the text, it is a good idea to use only the label and caption number (Ex .: as shown in Tab.1)
The white spaces at the beginning of the page and double space between words must be absolutely checked and eliminated.
Attention to when only one line remains at the end of a page or at the beginning of a new page. To keep this aspect under control in Word you can follow the following path: "View Paragraph tab" -> "Distribution of the text" -> Insert the check on "Check isolated lines". This setting is valid for all text characters.
Leave only one space between words and use the "Find" and "Replace" tool to check for any double spaces between words.
Quotations of definitions or parts of other works and the verbatim of the interviews must be placed in high quotation marks "" (Ex .: Lagerfield said: "we must ...").
Italics should be used in the articles for uncommon English words and words in Latin.
8. Numbering of titles, captions, sources and number of pages
The first level subtitles or paragraph titles must be numbered progressively. The first level numbering will be identified with a single number (Ex: 1., 2., etc.) and will have a "Return" 0, "Protruding" and "Return" of 0.5
Second level subtitles or sub-titles of paragraphs must be numbered progressively. Second level numbering will be identified with two numbers (Ex: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, etc.) and will have "Return" 0, "Protruding" and " Return to "0.5
Any subsequent subtitles must be numbered progressively and will be identified with an increasing number of characters depending on the level (Ex: 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, etc.). These must be set with "Return" 0 "Protruding" and "Re-enter" 0.5
The captions must have a progressive numbering, but distinct for figures and tables. Ex: Tab.1; Tab.2 or Fig.1; Fig.2.
The captions must be set with "Return" of 0.
The source in the data or image tables must be set with "Return" of 0.
The footnotes must have a justified alignment and a progressive numbering. Ex: 1; 2; 3; etc.
The pages must be numbered progressively, with the number in the center, Font Arial, 10pt.
9. Bullet Points and Numbered Lists
The text may contain both bullet points and numbered lists. For bullet points, it is recommended to use the characters or symbols suggested by Word, set to size 12pt. Uncommon symbols should be avoided. It is advisable to maintain consistency in the symbols used or the criteria applied in multi-level lists.
- All lists must have justified alignment.
- First-level lists must have an "Indent" of 0.5, "Hanging" and "Indent by" 0.5.
- Second-level lists must have an "Indent" of 1.0, "Hanging" and "Indent by" 0.5.
-Third-level lists must have an "Indent" of 1.5, "Hanging" and "Indent by" 0.5.
- A single line spacing should be inserted between the end of the list and the beginning of the text.
- If the enumeration is preceded by a sentence ending with a colon, the first word of each bullet point should be in lowercase (unless it is a proper noun), and a semicolon should be placed after the last word of each point. When the preceding sentence ends with a period, the first word should start with a capital letter, and a period should be placed at the end of the last word.
10. Figures: Charts and Images
- Each figure, including images and charts, must be inserted into the text file and numbered sequentially with the caption "Fig.," accompanied by a caption and source, and may be in black and white or color.
- Arial font must be used for creating charts and images.
- The best way to create charts in Word is to follow this procedure: "Insert --> Chart." This guided procedure will create an - Excel sheet where the chart data should be copied. This method allows direct data integration in the Word document, enabling modifications and clarity improvements at any time. The recommended method for creating images (diagrams, conceptual maps, etc.) is to use PowerPoint as a drawing board and then save the file in PNG format. The chart should then be inserted using the following procedure: "Insert --> Picture." This procedure is also recommended for SmartArt illustrations. Images included in the text should NOT be uploaded separately during the submission process on the journal's website but should be kept in PowerPoint, named with the same number as their caption, and readily provided to the editorial team in case of layout issues.
11. Tables
- Adopt the indicated page size and margins from the beginning of the work.
- Each table must be inserted in the text file and numbered sequentially with the caption "Tab.," accompanied by a title and source.
- Tables should NOT exceed 4 or 5 columns (width of 3cm or 2.5cm). However, authors are allowed to extend tables vertically, utilizing as many "rows" as needed, with variable heights depending on the content.
- Avoid inserting tables as images.
- Additionally, it is recommended not to include excessively long text in tables.
12. Mathematical Formulas
Mathematical formulas should be inserted using the Word Equation Editor or equivalent programs.
13. Citations & References
- Piccola Impresa / Small Business journal follows the international APA style.
- Each citation must correspond to a reference.
- DOIs for articles should be included where possible. The following link can be used to retrieve DOI codes: http://www.medra.org/en/search.htm
- Citations and references should be listed alphabetically by the surname of the first author. In cases where citations or references by the same author(s) exist, they should be listed chronologically from the most recent to the least recent. If multiple works by the same authors are published in the same year, citations and references should be distinguished by adding "a," "b," "c," etc.
- For citations, authors are advised to review articles previously published in the Piccola Impresa Small Business journal that discuss similar topics.
- Each reference must be formatted in Arial, 10pt, regular, and set with justified alignment, "Hanging" and "Indent by" 0.5.
- Below are some examples of citations and references:
IN-TEXT CITATIONS
Contribution with one or two authors:
- From theory on bounded rationality (Simon, 1945)…
- Simon (1945) states that …
- As has been shown (Leiter and Maslach, 1998) …
- As demonstrated by Leiter and Maslach (1998) …
- As Leiter and Maslach (1998) demonstrate
When a contribution has more than two authors:
- Kahneman et al. (1991) found …
- Studies (Leiter et al., 1998) show …
In the case of authors with multiple works in the same year, the letter "a" should be added to the citation and reference.
- Kahneman et al. (1991) found …
- Kahneman et al. (1991a) reveal …
JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCES
- Sanchez, D., & King-Toler, E. (2007). Addressing disparities: Consultation and outreach strategies for university settings. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 59(4), 286-295. doi:10.1037/1065-9293.59.4.286
- Van Vugt, M., Hogan, R., & Kaiser, R. B. (2008). Leadership, followership, and evolution: Some lessons from the past. American Psychologist, 63(3), 182-196. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.63.3.182
MONOGRAPH REFERENCES
- Gibbs, J. T., & Huang, L. N. (Eds.). (2001). Children of color: Psychological interventions with culturally diverse youth. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
BOOK CHAPTER REFERENCES
- Labajo, J. (2003). Body and voice: The construction of gender in flamenco. In T. Magrini (Ed.), Music and gender: Perspectives from the Mediterranean (pp. 67-86). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
- Hammond, K. R., & Adelman, L. (1986). Science, values, and human judgment. In H. R. Arkes & K. R. Hammond (Eds.), Judgement and decision making: An interdisciplinary reader (pp. 127-143). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS REFERENCES
- Wilkinson, R. (1999). Sociology as a marketing feast. In Sociology for the New Millennium. Paper presented at The Australian Sociological Association, Monash University, Melbourne, 7-10 December (pp. 281-289). Churchill, VIC: Celts.
For more details on APA style, the following links are recommended:
(https://www.library.cornell.edu/research/citation/apa)
(http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx)
(http://libguides.reynolds.edu/c.php?g=143613&p=939365)
14. Checks
Besides the .doc or .docx file, which must be uploaded to the platform, authors are advised to create a PDF of the article for verification. This file may reveal any formatting errors.
15. Ensuring a Blind Review
The article must not contain identifying information such as authors' names or affiliations.
Acknowledgments should not be included before acceptance.
All identifying information should be removed from file names and document properties to ensure anonymity.
16. Plagiarism Prevention
Submitting someone else's work or part of a text as your own or submitting your own already published work represents plagiarism and unethical conduct contrary to our policies.
To avoid plagiarism, the manuscript you submit to Piccola Impresa/Small Business should be original, based on your own research, conveyed in your own words and must clearly state appropriate attribution about another person's work when used in the text.
Before submitting your paper, we would recommend you check that your manuscript does not contain any form of plagiarism, self-plagiarism or text recycling. The editorial board has access to plagiarism detection services as well as our reviewers. Manuscripts that do not comply with these guidelines will be immediately rejected.
If a short version of the paper has been published in conference proceedings or other publication that has been assigned an ISSN or ISBN, then we would expect the manuscript to be widely developed before submission to Piccola Impresa/Small Business. Specifically, authors are expected to change title and abstract and develop the final version of the manuscript by at least 50%. You will also need to inform the editor – using the cover letter – of the existing conference paper or other publication and provide the details of the previous publication.
