Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

International Journal of Business Governance and Management (IJBGM)

Introduction
The International Journal of Business Governance and Management (IJBGM) is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, transparency and responsible publishing. The journal expects everyone involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers and the publisher, to act honestly and professionally.
This statement explains the ethical principles followed by the journal and the responsibilities of individuals involved in manuscript submission, peer review and publication.

Responsibilities of Authors
Authors are expected to submit original research that has been prepared honestly and responsibly. By submitting a manuscript to IJBGM, authors confirm that:

• The work is original and has not been published previously.
• The manuscript is not under consideration by another journal.
• All sources, ideas and materials taken from other works are properly acknowledged.
• The data, results and findings are presented accurately.
• All individuals listed as authors have made a meaningful contribution and approved the final manuscript.
• Any relevant funding, financial support or conflicts of interest are disclosed.
• Necessary ethical approvals and permissions have been obtained, where applicable.

Authors should inform the editorial office promptly if they discover a significant error in their submitted or published work.

Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication
IJBGM does not accept plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication or the unauthorised use of another person's work.
Submitted manuscripts may be screened using similarity-checking tools. The editorial team evaluates the results carefully, considering the context of matched text, quotations, references and proper citations.
A similarity percentage alone does not establish misconduct. However, manuscripts containing unattributed material, substantial duplication or misleading presentation of previously published work may be rejected.
If plagiarism or duplicate publication is identified after publication, the journal may take appropriate action, including issuing a correction, expression of concern or retraction.

Research Misconduct
The journal does not tolerate research misconduct, including:

• Fabrication of data or research findings.
• Falsification or manipulation of data, images or results.
• Plagiarism or improper attribution.
• Unauthorised changes to authorship.
• Misrepresentation of research methods or findings.
• Improper manipulation of the peer-review process.
• Submission of fraudulent or misleading information.

When a concern is raised, the editorial team will examine the available information and may request explanations or supporting documents from the authors. Where appropriate, the journal may contact the authors' affiliated institutions or other relevant organisations.
Any action will be based on the seriousness of the concern and the information available.

Authorship and Contributions
Authorship should reflect genuine academic contributions to the research. Individuals who have not made a meaningful contribution should not be included as authors.
The corresponding author is responsible for confirming that all listed authors have approved the manuscript and agreed to its submission.
Any request to add, remove or change the order of authors after submission must be explained to the editorial office and supported by the agreement of all affected authors.

Responsibilities of Editors
Editors are responsible for handling manuscripts fairly, independently and confidentially.
Editorial decisions should be based on the manuscript's academic quality, originality, relevance to the journal's scope and the outcome of the peer-review process.
Editors must:

• Treat all submissions fairly, without discrimination.
• Maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
• Select suitable and independent reviewers.
• Avoid using unpublished information for personal or professional benefit.
• Declare any potential conflict of interest.
• Ensure that publication decisions are not influenced by commercial or financial considerations.
• Take appropriate action when ethical concerns are identified.

Editors must not handle manuscripts where personal, professional or financial relationships could affect their impartiality.

Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers play an important role in maintaining the academic quality of the journal. They are expected to provide objective, constructive and timely assessments.
Reviewers should:

• Evaluate manuscripts fairly and confidentially.
• Provide clear comments supported by academic reasoning.
• Identify relevant published work that has not been properly acknowledged.
• Inform the editor of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication or ethical concerns.
• Decline a review if they lack the necessary expertise or have a conflict of interest.
• Avoid using unpublished research or information for personal advantage.

Reviewers should not share or discuss submitted manuscripts with unauthorised individuals.

Conflicts of Interest
Authors, editors and reviewers must disclose any financial, professional or personal relationships that could influence, or appear to influence, their work or decisions.
Authors should include a conflict of interest statement in their manuscript, even when no conflict exists.

Editors and reviewers must inform the journal of any relevant conflict and withdraw from the editorial or review process where impartiality may reasonably be questioned.

Research Ethics and Informed Consent
Research involving human participants, animals or sensitive personal information must follow applicable ethical standards and institutional requirements.
Where relevant, authors must provide details of ethical approval, the approving institution and informed consent procedures.

Authors are responsible for protecting participant privacy and ensuring that confidential or identifiable information is not disclosed without appropriate permission.

Use of Artificial Intelligence
IJBGM recognises that artificial intelligence tools may assist authors with certain aspects of research and manuscript preparation. However, their use must be transparent and responsible.
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI tools when they have contributed to manuscript preparation, including writing, translation, analysis or content generation.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors remain responsible for verifying the accuracy of AI-assisted content, checking references and ensuring that the work does not contain fabricated information, misleading claims or unattributed material.
Editors and reviewers must also maintain confidentiality when handling manuscripts and should not upload confidential manuscript content to external AI tools without appropriate authorisation.

Confidentiality and Data Protection
Manuscripts, reviewer reports, author information and editorial correspondence must be handled confidentially.

The journal will use submitted information only for legitimate editorial and publishing purposes. Personal information should not be shared with unauthorised individuals.
Authors and reviewers must also respect the confidentiality of research data and unpublished material obtained during the publication process.

Complaints and Appeals
Authors may raise concerns about editorial decisions, peer-review procedures or possible breaches of publication ethics by contacting the journal through its official communication channels.

Complaints and appeals will be considered fairly and reviewed by the appropriate editorial authority. Where necessary, the journal may seek additional information before reaching a decision.
An appeal should provide clear reasons and relevant supporting information.

Corrections, Retractions and Expressions of Concern
IJBGM aims to maintain an accurate and reliable scholarly record. If an error or ethical concern is identified in a published article, the journal will assess the matter and determine the appropriate action.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may:

• Publish a correction when a limited error affects the accuracy of an article.
• Issue an expression of concern when a significant issue requires further investigation.
• Retract an article when its findings are seriously unreliable or publication ethics have been substantially violated.

Retractions and corrections will be clearly identified and linked to the original publication wherever possible.

Responsibilities of the Publisher
The publisher, Shivi Scientific Press, supports the journal in maintaining transparent and responsible publishing practices.

The publisher is expected to respect editorial independence and provide appropriate support for the handling of ethical concerns, corrections and retractions.
Commercial interests, publication charges or other financial arrangements must not influence the academic evaluation or editorial acceptance of manuscripts.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct
Any allegation of publication or research misconduct will be considered seriously.
The journal may request clarification, supporting documents or additional information from the authors and other relevant parties. The individuals concerned will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond.

Depending on the findings, the journal may reject a manuscript, suspend the editorial process, issue a correction or retraction, or take other appropriate action.
Where necessary, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant institutional authorities.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing
IJBGM is committed to promoting responsible research, fair peer review and transparency throughout the publication process.
All authors, editors, reviewers and publishing partners are expected to follow these principles to help maintain the credibility and reliability of the scholarly record.

Journal: International Journal of Business Governance and Management (IJBGM)
Publisher: Shivi Scientific Press
Website: https://ijbgm.com/