The International Journal of Science, Strategic Management, and Technology (IJSMT) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical publishing. The journal follows best practices and ethical principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability throughout the publication process.

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJSMT are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

• Originality: Manuscripts must present original work and must not be under consideration or published elsewhere.
• Authorship: All listed authors should have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research and approved the final manuscript.
• Plagiarism and Citation: Proper acknowledgment of all sources must be provided. Any form of plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
• Data Integrity: Research data must be accurately reported without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.
• Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts that could influence the research or its interpretation.

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the scholarly record. Reviewers are expected to:

• Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and within the agreed timeframe.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of manuscripts and not use unpublished information for personal advantage.
• Declare any conflicts of interest and decline review if a conflict exists.
• Identify relevant published work that has not been cited and report any ethical concerns to the Editor.

Editors are responsible for ensuring a fair, unbiased, and transparent editorial process. Their responsibilities include:

• Making publication decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
• Preserving the integrity of the double-blind peer review process.
• Managing conflicts of interest and maintaining editorial independence.
• Investigating ethical complaints, misconduct, or allegations in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Research misconduct includes plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate submission, and unethical authorship practices. Any suspected misconduct will be thoroughly investigated. Proven cases may result in manuscript rejection, retraction of published articles, and notification to the author’s affiliated institution.

If significant errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, IJSMT may issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions as appropriate, following COPE recommendations.

IJSMT is dedicated to fostering a transparent, responsible, and ethical scholarly publishing environment. All stakeholders—authors, reviewers, and editors—are expected to uphold these principles to maintain trust in academic research.