Ethics and Policies

The Review of Management Studies (RMS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized best practices and adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These policies apply to all authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Publication Ethics and Integrity

RMS ensures that all published research is:

  • Original, theoretically sound, and methodologically rigorous
  • Conducted ethically and reported transparently
  • Free from plagiarism, data manipulation, or misrepresentation
  • Aligned with responsible academic and professional standards

Any unethical practice will be addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

2.1 Authorship Criteria

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

  • Research design, conceptualization, or theoretical development
  • Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
  • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript
  • Final approval of the version submitted for publication

All authors must agree to submission and publication.

2.2 Unacceptable Practices

RMS does not permit:

  • Ghost authorship
  • Gift or honorary authorship
  • Unauthorized changes in authorship after submission

Any authorship changes must be supported by written consent from all authors.

3. Plagiarism and Originality

All submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere.

Plagiarism includes:

  • Direct copying without proper citation
  • Self-plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Improper paraphrasing or unattributed ideas

Manuscripts failing originality standards may be rejected or retracted.

4. Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors must:

  • Ensure accuracy and honesty in data reporting and analysis
  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting
  • Retain data for verification if requested
  • Promote transparency and reproducibility in research

Where applicable, data availability statements are encouraged.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The use of AI tools must be clearly disclosed.

AI tools:

  • May assist in language editing, formatting, or analysis
  • Must not replace academic judgment or intellectual contribution
  • Must not be credited as authors
  • Must not generate fabricated data, citations, or results

Undisclosed AI use may result in rejection.

6. Ethical Approval and Human Subjects

Research involving human participants or organizations must:

  • Comply with institutional and national ethical standards
  • Obtain ethical clearance where required
  • Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity

Authors must clearly state ethical approval or justify exemptions.

7. Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflicts of interest, including:

  • Financial support or funding relationships
  • Employment, consultancy, or advisory roles
  • Personal or professional relationships affecting objectivity

All declared conflicts will be assessed for transparency and fairness.

8. Peer Review Policy

RMS operates a double-blind peer review system.

Review Process:

  • Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers
  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise in management and related fields
  • All review reports are confidential

Reviewer Responsibilities:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback
  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts
  • Disclose conflicts of interest
  • Report ethical concerns to the editor

9. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring fair, independent, and unbiased decision-making
  • Maintaining confidentiality of all submissions
  • Managing conflicts of interest appropriately
  • Upholding academic and ethical publishing standards

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit and relevance.

10. Open Access Policy

RMS is a fully open-access journal:

  • All published articles are freely accessible worldwide
  • No subscription fees are charged
  • Publication is currently free; No fees/APC will be charged for articles, and no surcharges will apply for the length of an article, for illustrations and figures (including color figures), and for supplementary data unless noted otherwise.
  • APC supports editorial management, peer review, and digital preservation

11. Copyright and Licensing Policy

  • Authors retain copyright of their work
  • Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence
  • Users may share and adapt content with proper attribution

12. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

RMS may issue:

  • Corrections for minor errors
  • Retractions for serious ethical violations
  • Expressions of concern during ongoing investigations

All actions follow COPE guidelines and are transparently documented.

13. Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a justified request to the Editor-in-Chief
  • Complaints regarding editorial conduct, peer review, or ethics are handled confidentially and impartially

14. Archiving and Preservation Policy

To ensure long-term accessibility:

  • All published articles are digitally archived
  • DOI assignment ensures permanent identification and access
  • Content remains accessible even in case of publication discontinuation

15. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

  • RMS does not accept advertising that compromises editorial independence
  • Any sponsorship arrangements are fully disclosed
  • Editorial decisions remain independent of financial influence

16. Compliance with International Standards

RMS aligns with:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice
  • International scholarly publishing ethics and integrity standards