Journal Integration of Management Studies (JIMS) is committed to maintaining the integrity and credibility of scholarly publications. All allegations of research misconduct are taken seriously and assessed fairly, confidentially, and without prejudice.

1. Forms of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct and related publication integrity concerns may include:

• Fabrication or falsification of research data and findings.
• Plagiarism and inappropriate reuse of previously published work.
• Manipulation of research images or evidence.
• Undisclosed duplicate publication or submission.
• Authorship misrepresentation or manipulation.
• Misleading reporting of research methods, results, or ethical approval.
• Peer-review or citation manipulation.

2. Reporting an Allegation

Concerns regarding submitted or published manuscripts may be reported to the Editor-in-Chief through the journal's official contact channels.

Reports should identify the manuscript or article concerned, describe the suspected misconduct, and provide relevant supporting information where available. Reports submitted anonymously will be considered when they contain sufficient verifiable evidence.

3. Assessment and Investigation

The editorial team will conduct a preliminary assessment of the allegation. When appropriate, the individuals concerned will be contacted and given a reasonable opportunity to respond.

Serious allegations requiring formal research investigation may be referred to the relevant institution or competent authority. JIMS will evaluate the available evidence before determining appropriate editorial action.

4. Editorial Actions

Depending on the evidence and the stage of publication, editorial actions may include:

• Requesting clarification or supporting evidence.
• Requiring manuscript revisions.
• Suspending editorial processing.
• Rejecting a manuscript when serious integrity concerns are substantiated.
• Publishing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction when warranted.

5. Fairness and Confidentiality

JIMS will handle allegations impartially, protect confidential information as far as reasonably possible, and avoid premature conclusions. Individuals reporting concerns in good faith will be treated respectfully.

Editorial decisions will be based on documented evidence and applicable publication ethics principles.

6. Ethical Guidance

This policy is informed by the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) , particularly its principles concerning allegations of misconduct and the integrity of the scholarly record.