Publication Ethics

The IFSMRC African International Journal of Research in Management (AIJRM) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical publishing standards to ensure integrity, transparency, and quality in scholarly communication.

AIJRM expects all parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers—to adhere to ethical principles and professional responsibilities at every stage of manuscript submission, review, and publication.

1. Ethical Principles

AIJRM is committed to promoting:

  • Academic honesty and research integrity
  • Transparency in scholarly publishing
  • Fair and unbiased editorial decisions
  • Confidentiality in peer review
  • Respect for intellectual property
  • Responsible authorship and contributorship
  • Ethical research and reporting practices

Any form of unethical publishing behavior is strictly prohibited.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to AIJRM must ensure that:

Originality and Plagiarism

  • Submitted work is original and has not been copied, plagiarized, or improperly paraphrased from other sources
  • Proper acknowledgment and citation of others’ work must always be provided
  • Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will be rejected immediately

Multiple or Duplicate Submission

  • Manuscripts must not be submitted simultaneously to more than one journal
  • Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals constitutes unethical publishing behavior

Authorship

  • Only individuals who have made significant scholarly contributions should be listed as authors
  • All listed authors must approve the final manuscript and consent to submission
  • The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring all co-authors are properly included

Data Integrity

  • Authors must present accurate and truthful data
  • Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of research data is strictly prohibited
  • Authors should retain raw data and provide it when requested by editors

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the research
  • All funding sources must be clearly acknowledged

Use of Human or Organizational Data

  • Research involving human participants, organizations, or confidential institutional data must comply with ethical standards
  • Necessary permissions, approvals, and participant consent must be obtained before submission

3. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of AIJRM are responsible for ensuring a fair, transparent, and ethical publication process.

Editors must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and scholarly quality
  • Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Ensure a fair and unbiased peer review process
  • Avoid discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, religion, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs
  • Not use unpublished materials for personal research without author consent
  • Take appropriate action when ethical concerns or misconduct allegations arise

Editors have full authority to accept, reject, or request revision of manuscripts based on editorial and peer-review assessment.

4. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of published research.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Review manuscripts objectively, fairly, and constructively
  • Maintain confidentiality of all review materials
  • Provide clear, evidence-based, and timely feedback
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors
  • Alert editors to possible plagiarism, duplication, or ethical concerns
  • Decline review if there is a conflict of interest or insufficient expertise

Reviewers must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for personal advantage.

5. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher of AIJRM is committed to supporting ethical publishing practices and maintaining the integrity of the academic record.

The publisher is responsible for:

  • Supporting editorial independence
  • Ensuring ethical oversight of publication practices
  • Preserving the scholarly record
  • Addressing ethical complaints and appeals fairly
  • Publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when necessary

The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions and remains committed to transparency and academic integrity.

6. Peer Review Integrity

AIJRM follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartiality and fairness.

The journal ensures that:

  • Reviewer identities remain confidential
  • Author identities remain concealed from reviewers
  • Manuscripts are evaluated objectively and independently
  • Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit and reviewer recommendations

Any attempt to manipulate the peer review process is considered serious misconduct.

7. Research Misconduct

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Data fabrication
  • Data falsification
  • Citation manipulation
  • Authorship manipulation
  • Duplicate publication
  • Peer review manipulation

When misconduct is suspected, AIJRM will investigate the matter carefully and take appropriate action in accordance with ethical publishing standards.

Actions may include:

  • Rejection of manuscript
  • Request for clarification or correction
  • Notification to author institution
  • Retraction of published article
  • Temporary or permanent submission ban

8. Corrections and Retractions

AIJRM is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

Where necessary, the journal will publish:

  • Corrections for minor errors
  • Errata for production mistakes
  • Retractions for serious ethical or scientific violations
  • Expressions of concern where misconduct investigations are ongoing

Corrections and retractions will be issued in a transparent and timely manner.

9. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or submit complaints regarding:

  • Editorial handling
  • Peer review fairness
  • Ethical concerns
  • Publication delays
  • Conflict of interest issues

All complaints and appeals will be handled fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.

10. Ethical Oversight

AIJRM is committed to continuous ethical oversight in all stages of publication.

The journal follows recognized international standards of scholarly publishing ethics and expects all contributors to uphold these standards to preserve the credibility, reliability, and integrity of academic research.

AIJRM maintains zero tolerance for unethical conduct and is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly publishing process.