Journal profile · Operations Research & Management Science
OR Spectrum
ISSN 0171-6468 · eISSN 1436-6304 · Springer Berlin Heidelberg · GERMANY · Quarterly · Founded 1979
OR Spectrum: CAS Zone 4 · Management (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.3 (journal website); hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,290; median 426 days to acceptance (77 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 40 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
OR Spectrum is published by Springer Berlin Heidelberg and is in Zone 4 of Management in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Scheduling and Optimization Algorithms, Vehicle Routing Optimization Methods and Supply Chain and Inventory Management, together about 25.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
OR Spectrum (ORSP) publishes applied and theoretical articles that contribute to Operations Research as a scientific instrument. Published articles develop and apply quantitative approaches to problem-solving and decision-making on a strategical, tactical, or operational level. The contributions to science and practice are clearly articulated. At least two reviewers assess the quality of published articles. Surveys and empirical papers (including behavioral research) establishing the need for refining quantitative approaches and/or providing support for central assumptions in existing approaches are within the scope.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Operations Research & Management Science
Editor-in-chief Marie SchmidtPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 1%); most named Germany 28, Netherlands 9, United Kingdom 7, Austria 7, Belgium 5 (80 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Scheduling and Optimization AlgorithmsEngineering9.4%
- Vehicle Routing Optimization MethodsEngineering8.4%
- Supply Chain and Inventory ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting7.5%
- Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics OptimizationEngineering7.4%
- Psychology, Coaching, and TherapyPsychology6.9%
- Sports Science and EducationArts and Humanities6.6%
- Biomedical and Chemical ResearchMedicine6.4%
- Optimization and Packing ProblemsEngineering4.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Management Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Management | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Management Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Management | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Management Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Management | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Operations Research & Management Science | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
INSPECzbMATHDBLPEconLitPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, ACM Digital Library, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, RePEc
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.1LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.72LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.99LetPub ·
- h-index
- 58LetPub ·
- h-index
- 101OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 817OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.41OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 65.35%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 36LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 272,900Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,053 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 33 | 26 | 12 |
| 2025 | 40 | 34 | 61 |
| 2024 | 60 | 43 | 381 |
| 2023 | 39 | 25 | 279 |
| 2022 | 39 | 26 | 317 |
| 2021 | 51 | 33 | 588 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
426 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 286 days – 504 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 35 days (77 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 452 days
- Sample
- 77 articles with submission and acceptance dates (83 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 6 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 15 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,290 / EUR 2,690 / GBP 2,390 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted1
- editorialSingle-blind peer review This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. This journal also publishes special/guest-edited issues. The peer review proce…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in OR Spectrum, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Single-blind peer review
Single-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. This journal also publishes special/guest-edited issues. The peer review process for these articles is the same as the peer review process of the journal in general. Additionally, if a guest editor authors an article in their issue/collection, they will not handle the peer review process.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1979
- ISSN
- 0171-6468
- Electronic ISSN
- 1436-6304
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 48, Issue 2 (June 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about OR Spectrum
What CAS zone is OR Spectrum in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, OR Spectrum is in Zone 4 of Management, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Operations Research & Management Science. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Management. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of OR Spectrum?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 2.3 (2025); this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; CiteScore 4.1, h-index 101.
How long does peer review take at OR Spectrum?
Based on the dates recorded on 77 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 426 days (interquartile range 286–504 days); authors report an average review time of about 6 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of OR Spectrum?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of OR Spectrum based?
Of the 80 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 1%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Germany (28), Netherlands (9) and United Kingdom (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index OR Spectrum?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, OR Spectrum is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists INSPEC, zbMATH, DBLP and EconLit; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is OR Spectrum open access, and what is the APC?
OR Spectrum is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,290.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .