International Management Review - Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics Statement

International Management Review (IMR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. IMR expects all parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, editorial board members, and the publisher—to adhere to the principles of honesty, transparency, fairness, accountability, and academic integrity.

The journal follows internationally recognized standards of publication ethics and is guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Any allegation of unethical publishing behavior will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate action will be taken when necessary.

Responsibilities of Editors

The Editor-in-Chief and Editors are responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, and academic value of all published content.

Editors shall:

  • Evaluate submitted manuscripts solely on their scholarly merit, originality, significance, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal's aims and scope, without discrimination based on race, gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, institutional affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs.
  • Make publication decisions based on the recommendations of independent peer reviewers, editorial judgment, and the journal's editorial policies.
  • Ensure that all manuscripts undergo a fair, objective, and timely peer-review process.
  • Maintain editorial independence and make decisions free from commercial or personal influence.
  • Preserve the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and disclose manuscript information only to the corresponding author, reviewers, editorial staff, or the publisher, as appropriate.
  • Avoid handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest. When such conflicts exist, another qualified editor will manage the review process.
  • Not use unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts for their own research without the authors' explicit written consent.
  • Respond appropriately to ethical concerns, allegations of misconduct, appeals, complaints, requests for corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.
  • Take reasonable steps to identify and prevent publication of manuscripts involving plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, duplicate publication, manipulated citations, or other forms of academic misconduct.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.

Authors shall:

  • Submit only original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.
  • Ensure that all data presented are accurate, honestly reported, and have not been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated.
  • Properly acknowledge the work, ideas, and words of others through appropriate citation and referencing.
  • Avoid plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, redundant publication, and simultaneous submission.
  • Ensure that all listed authors have made substantial scholarly contributions to the research and have approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.
  • Identify the corresponding author, who is responsible for communication with the journal throughout the publication process.
  • Disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation.
  • Identify all sources of research funding where applicable.
  • Promptly notify the Editor if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing a correction, corrigendum, or retraction when appropriate.
  • Obtain all necessary ethical approvals, informed consent, and permissions for research involving human participants, personal data, or copyrighted materials, where applicable.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the quality and integrity of scholarly publishing.

Reviewers shall:

  • Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and not disclose or discuss them with others without authorization from the Editor.
  • Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, constructively, and within the agreed review period.
  • Provide clear, evidence-based comments that assist editors in making publication decisions and help authors improve their manuscripts.
  • Evaluate manuscripts based on scholarly quality, originality, methodology, significance, clarity, and relevance to the journal.
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been cited where appropriate.
  • Alert the Editor to any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, image manipulation, data fabrication, unethical research practices, or other ethical concerns.
  • Decline review invitations if they lack appropriate expertise or cannot complete the review within the requested timeframe.
  • Disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest arising from personal, professional, financial, institutional, collaborative, or competitive relationships with the authors or related organizations.
  • Not use or distribute unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal advantage or the advantage of others.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher is committed to supporting editorial independence and maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

The publisher shall:

  • Support editors in making independent editorial decisions based solely on academic merit.
  • Promote ethical publishing practices and research integrity.
  • Cooperate with editors in investigating allegations of research misconduct.
  • Publish corrections, corrigenda, expressions of concern, or retractions when necessary to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record.
  • Ensure that commercial considerations do not influence editorial decisions.

Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Simultaneous submission to multiple journals
  • Improper authorship or guest authorship
  • Citation manipulation
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest

When credible evidence of misconduct is identified, IMR will investigate the matter following established ethical procedures. Depending on the outcome, actions may include rejection of the manuscript, publication of a correction, expression of concern, retraction of the article, notification of the authors' institutions, or other appropriate measures.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, their decisions or interpretations. Individuals with significant conflicts of interest should recuse themselves from the editorial or peer-review process.

Corrections and Retractions

When significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, IMR will take appropriate action to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. Depending on the circumstances, this may include publishing a correction (erratum or corrigendum), an expression of concern, or a retraction. Such actions will be conducted in a transparent and timely manner.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints concerning the editorial process, peer review, or publication ethics. Appeals and complaints should be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief with supporting evidence. Each case will be reviewed fairly, independently, and confidentially.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Authors are responsible for all content submitted to IMR, including any material generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. AI tools may be used only to improve language or readability. Authors remain fully accountable for all submitted content and should disclose significant use of AI tools when appropriate.