Ethics

Publication Ethical Considerations

Our ethical statements are based on COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and maintain the high standards of the publication process, setting standards and providing guidelines for best practices to meet these requirements.

Originality and Data Sharing Policy

All submissions to the Journal of Organizational Behavior Research must be entirely original and should not have been published previously, either in whole or in part, nor be under review elsewhere. Where substantial overlap with earlier work exists, appropriate citation is required. Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is checked upon submission, and manuscripts with significant evidence of copied material are declined. The use of AI-based tools such as large language models, generative AI, or chatbots for generating article content does not comply with the journal’s criteria. The accountability for originality, validity, and scholarly integrity lies solely with the authors. Any submission that violates copyright law will be rejected unless necessary corrections are made.

The journal also places strong emphasis on transparency and reproducibility. Authors are required to submit the underlying source data for all original research articles so that others can replicate findings, verify analyses, and reuse data where appropriate. If data cannot be shared openly due to ethical, security, or data protection concerns, this must be communicated to the editorial team during submission. Authors are encouraged to follow the journal’s guidelines to ensure compliance with expectations on data storage, presentation formats, and accessibility. Failure to provide source data without a valid justification may result in rejection.

Retractions

Retractions are considered when serious issues are identified in a published work. These may include inadvertent errors acknowledged by the authors, such as problems with sample handling or the use of faulty instruments, or more severe concerns such as data fabrication, duplication, manipulation, plagiarism, or unethical practices. Retraction notices will clearly specify the reason for retraction and identify the initiating party. They will remain permanently linked to the retracted article, which generally remains available online, including the PDF version, but clearly marked as retracted.

Retractions may be initiated either by the authors or by the publisher, often following the outcome of an institutional inquiry. In exceptional circumstances such as legal obligations involving defamation, copyright violations, or court orders, content may be removed entirely, although bibliographic information and explanatory details will remain accessible. If misleading or false data is found to pose a health risk, the original version may be replaced with a corrected one, with the reason for the replacement explicitly stated.

Credit and Authorship

Authorship should reflect significant intellectual contributions to the research. Contributions that do not meet authorship requirements, such as technical assistance or language editing, should be acknowledged separately. Any changes to the list of authors after submission must be approved by all contributors. In cases where an author is unresponsive, responsibility lies with the corresponding author to ensure proper communication. Authorship disputes must be resolved at the institutional level, as the editorial office is not authorized to intervene.

Duties of Editors

Editors bear final responsibility for decisions regarding acceptance or rejection of manuscripts. Their judgments are guided by the journal’s policies, the recommendations of the editorial board, COPE Best Practice Guidelines, and relevant legal requirements. Editors are expected to ensure that peer review is conducted fairly, impartially, and promptly. Typically, at least two independent experts review each manuscript. Editors must select reviewers with appropriate expertise while also ensuring inclusivity and diversity.

Conflicts of interest must be declared in writing before and updated when circumstances change. Editors may not participate in decisions regarding their own work and must focus solely on the scholarly merit of submissions. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the review process, and editorial decisions should never be influenced by personal, financial, or institutional considerations.

Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers provide an essential service by assisting editors in reaching publication decisions and offering constructive feedback to authors. Manuscripts assigned for review must be treated as confidential and may not be shared, discussed, or used for personal benefit. Reviewers who lack the necessary expertise or cannot complete the review promptly are expected to decline the invitation.

Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively and avoid bias. They should identify potential ethical issues such as plagiarism, overlap with other works, or questionable data practices, and inform the editor accordingly. Privileged information obtained through the review process must remain confidential.

Duties of Authors

Authors are responsible for presenting their research truthfully and accurately, ensuring that their work provides enough detail for replication. They may be asked to supply raw data to support editorial review and must retain these records for a reasonable period. All submissions must be original, with proper acknowledgment of prior work. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.

When research involves human or animal subjects, manuscripts must include confirmation that ethical standards were followed, appropriate institutional approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured when required. Authors must protect the privacy of human participants. Conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, that could influence findings must be disclosed in the manuscript. If significant errors are discovered after publication, authors must promptly notify the journal and cooperate with editors in correcting or retracting the work.

Announcement and Advertisement

The journal publishes announcements of scientific events, such as conferences or symposia, for free. Advertising opportunities may appear either in print issues or as online banners.

Harassment

International Journal of Business and Management Sciences enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy toward harassment of any kind directed at authors, reviewers, or members of the editorial staff. Respectful and professional conduct is expected at all times, ensuring a safe and inclusive scholarly environment.