Academic Journal Ranking - ABDC

What is ABDC?

The ABDC (Australian Business Deans Council) Journal Quality List is a widely recognized ranking system for academic journals in business disciplines. The ABDC provides a comprehensive list of journals, categorizing them into different quality tiers (A*, A, B, and C) based on rigorous evaluation criteria. The rankings are used by researchers, academics, and institutions to assess the quality and impact of academic journals in the field of business. Journals are assigned a ranking based on factors such as peer review processes, editorial standards, citation impact, and overall contribution to the academic community.

When did ABDC started?

The ABDC Journal Quality List was first released in 2008. The Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) initiated this effort to provide a systematic and transparent way to evaluate the quality of academic journals in the field of business. The list categorizes journals into different tiers (A*, A, B, and C) based on rigorous criteria, including peer review processes, editorial standards, and citation impact. Since its inception, the ABDC Journal Quality List has become a widely used reference for researchers, academics, and institutions to assess the quality and impact of academic journals in the business disciplines. It is important to note that the list is periodically updated to reflect changes in the academic publishing landscape, so researchers should refer to the latest edition for the most current information on journal rankings.

What are the top Journals?

I can provide you with an example of some prestigious journals in the field of business and related disciplines that are generally well-regarded:

1. Journal of Finance (A)*
2. Accounting Review (A)*
3. Journal of Accounting and Economics (A)*
4. Journal of Accounting Research (A)*
5. Academy of Management Journal (A)*
6. Strategic Management Journal (A)*
7. Review of Financial Studies (A)*
8. Journal of Marketing (A)*
9. Management Science (A)*
10. Journal of Consumer Research (A)*
11. Journal of Operations Management (A)*
12. Information Systems Research (A)*

You can find a comprehensive list of journals on the following link:

ABDC Journal Quality List - Australian Business Deans Council

Why ABDC rank is important?

The ABDC ranking holds significant importance as it serves as a crucial tool for the quality assessment of academic journals in business disciplines. Introduced by the Australian Business Deans Council in 2008, the ranking categorizes journals into different tiers (A*, A, B, C) based on rigorous criteria, including peer review processes, editorial standards, and citation impact. This system guides researchers in identifying reputable journals for submissions and citations, influencing publication strategies and enhancing the global recognition of academic work in the business field. Academic institutions also utilize the ABDC ranking for evaluating faculty research, affecting decisions on promotions, tenure, and overall assessments of scholarly contributions. By promoting excellence in academic publishing and providing a widely recognized international standard, the ABDC ranking plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of quality and rigor in business research dissemination. Researchers and institutions are encouraged to stay updated with the latest editions of the ABDC Journal Quality List for the most current insights into the scholarly impact and credibility of business journals.

Limitation of ABDC rank:

The ABDC Journal Quality List, while widely utilized and respected, has several limitations. Primarily focused on business disciplines, its discipline specificity restricts its applicability to other academic fields. The periodic updates may result in a static representation, potentially leading to outdated rankings that do not promptly incorporate new journals or changes in existing ones. Originating from the Australian context, the ABDC's global perspective may exhibit biases towards the priorities and perspectives of the Australian business academic community. The criteria for ranking involve subjective judgments, and the focus on top-tier journals may inadvertently discourage publication diversity and overlook contributions in emerging interdisciplinary areas. Furthermore, the reliance on citation impact as a metric may not adequately capture the impact of certain types of research. Researchers and institutions should be mindful of these limitations and consider supplementing the ABDC rankings with other evaluation tools for a more comprehensive assessment of journal quality and impact.