Ethics and Policies

The Review of Supply Chain Management (RSCM) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized best practices and adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These policies apply to authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Publication Ethics and Integrity

RSCM ensures that all published research is:

  • Original, methodologically rigorous, and academically sound
  • Conducted ethically and reported with full transparency
  • Free from plagiarism, data fabrication, or manipulation
  • Relevant to supply chain management, logistics, operations, and related fields

Any unethical practice will be addressed according to COPE guidelines.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

2.1 Authorship Criteria

Authorship is limited to individuals who have contributed substantially to:

  • Research design, conceptualisation, or theoretical development
  • Data collection, modelling, analysis, or interpretation
  • Drafting or critical revision of the manuscript
  • Final approval of the submitted version

All authors must agree to submission and publication.

2.2 Unacceptable Practices

RSCM does not permit:

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

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

3. Plagiarism and Originality

All submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.

Plagiarism includes:

  • Copying without proper citation
  • Self-plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Improper paraphrasing or unattributed use of ideas

Manuscripts violating originality standards may be rejected or retracted.

4. Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors are expected to:

  • Report data and findings accurately and transparently
  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting
  • Retain data for verification when required
  • Promote reproducibility in empirical and analytical studies

Data availability statements are encouraged where appropriate.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Use of AI tools must be clearly disclosed.

AI tools:

  • May assist in language editing, formatting, or analytical support
  • Must not replace intellectual contribution or academic judgment
  • Must not be listed as authors
  • Must not generate fabricated data, references, or results

Undisclosed AI use may lead to rejection.

6. Ethical Approval and Human Subjects

Research involving human participants or organisations must:

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

Authors must clearly state ethical approval or justify exemption.

7. Conflict of Interest Policy

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

  • Funding sources and financial relationships
  • Employment, consultancy, or advisory roles
  • Personal or professional relationships affecting objectivity

All disclosures are reviewed to ensure transparency.

8. Peer Review Policy

RSCM operates a double-blind peer review system.

Review Process:

  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts
  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise in supply chain and related fields
  • All review reports are confidential

Reviewer Responsibilities:

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

9. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring fair, independent, and unbiased editorial decisions
  • Maintaining strict confidentiality of 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

RSCM is a fully open-access journal:

  • All published content is 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
  • Readers may share and adapt content with proper attribution

12. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

RSCM 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 reasoned request to the Editor-in-Chief
  • Complaints regarding editorial conduct, peer review, or ethics are handled confidentially and fairly

14. Archiving and Preservation Policy

To ensure long-term accessibility:

  • All published articles are digitally archived
  • DOI assignment ensures permanent access and citation stability
  • Content remains accessible even if the journal ceases publication

15. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

  • RSCM 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

RSCM adheres to:

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