Plagiarism Policy – International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology (IJSMT)

Commitment to Academic Integrity

IJSMT is committed to preserving the integrity of scholarly communication. All manuscripts submitted to the journal must represent original work and must not contain plagiarized material in any form. Plagiarism is regarded as a serious violation of academic ethics and publication standards and is handled accordingly.

Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the use of another person’s ideas, text, data, images, or intellectual output without appropriate acknowledgment. This includes verbatim copying, close paraphrasing, reuse of previously published material without disclosure, and duplicate or redundant submissions. Self-plagiarism, where authors reuse substantial portions of their own published or submitted work without proper citation, is also treated as unethical. Whether intentional or accidental, plagiarism is considered a breach of policy.

Manuscript Screening and Evaluation

All submissions to IJSMT undergo plagiarism screening using recognized detection tools along with editorial assessment. Screening may occur at multiple stages of the publication process, including initial submission, peer review, pre-acceptance checks, or post-publication if concerns arise. Similarity reports are evaluated qualitatively, not mechanically, and editorial judgment remains central to the assessment.

Similarity Assessment Principles

IJSMT does not rely solely on numerical similarity percentages. Commonly used terminology, standard methodological descriptions, references, and properly cited quotations may result in acceptable similarity. The Editorial Board evaluates the context, extent, and intent of overlapping content before reaching a decision. The final determination of acceptability rests exclusively with the journal.

Editorial Actions in Case of Plagiarism

When plagiarism is identified, IJSMT may take appropriate editorial action depending on the severity and stage of processing. This may include rejection prior to review, termination during review, withdrawal of acceptance, or retraction after publication. In cases of serious misconduct, the journal reserves the right to restrict future submissions and inform relevant academic or institutional authorities.

Author Responsibility and Accountability

Authors bear full responsibility for the originality and ethical compliance of their submissions. They are expected to ensure accurate citation of all sources, obtain necessary permissions for reused material, and disclose any prior publication or overlap at the time of submission. Claims of unintentional error, lack of awareness, or technical oversight do not exempt authors from responsibility.

Use of Prior or Related Work

Manuscripts derived from conference papers, theses, dissertations, preprints, or earlier versions must clearly acknowledge the source and demonstrate substantial scholarly advancement. Failure to disclose prior dissemination or significant overlap may be treated as an ethical violation under this policy.

Post-Publication Allegations

Allegations of plagiarism raised after publication are taken seriously and will be investigated by the Editorial Board. Authors may be invited to provide clarification; however, IJSMT retains full authority to decide on corrective actions, including public retraction or editorial notice, where warranted.

Policy Acceptance

Submission of a manuscript to IJSMT constitutes confirmation that the authors have read, understood, and agreed to comply with this Plagiarism Policy. This policy forms an integral part of the journal’s editorial and ethical framework.

Final Authority

The interpretation and enforcement of this Plagiarism Policy rest solely with IJSMT. The journal’s decision in matters of plagiarism is final and binding and shall not be subject to external appeal.