Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Systems Engineering and Information Technology (JOSEIT) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. This statement outlines our commitment to ethical practices and provides guidelines for authors, editors, and reviewers. Our policies align with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) standards and reflect current best practices in academic publishing.

Core Principles

JOSEIT is committed to meeting and upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. It is our duty to publish original work in the best format and to the highest standards, which will be valuable to the academic community. Among the essential values that help us accomplish our goal are honesty, originality, and fair dealing on the part of authors, and impartiality, confidentiality, and fairness on the part of editors and reviewers.

All submitted manuscripts must conform to JOSEIT policies. All manuscripts undergo rigorous peer review and must meet academic excellence requirements. Peer reviewers' identities remain anonymous to authors when authorized by the editor. JOSEIT editorial boards are independent, and the publisher will not influence editorial decisions.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship Criteria
Authors must meet all four of the following criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data
2. Drafting the work or critically revising it for important intellectual content
3. Final approval of the version to be published
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work

An author should be able to identify which co-authors are responsible for specific portions of the work and have confidence in the integrity of their contributions. JOSEIT includes only one corresponding author per article. Authorship by artificial intelligence is not considered acceptable.

Contributorship
JOSEIT follows the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT), which consists of 14 roles describing the specific contributions made to academic output. Research articles by multiple authors must include an author contributorship declaration detailing each author's specific contributions.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Authors submitting to JOSEIT must:

1. Present research findings accurately and objectively assess their importance
2. Maintain accurate authorship by including only eligible contributors
3. Disclose any potential conflicts of interest at submission
4. Present data and methods with precision and in sufficient detail for replication
5. Submit only original, unpublished research not under consideration elsewhere
6. Obtain permission for previously published content
7. Promptly communicate any errors discovered after publication
8. Disclose all financial support and potential conflicts of interest

Use of AI or AI-Assisted Technologies

When AI or AI-assisted tools are used in manuscript preparation, this must be declared appropriately with sufficient details at the time of submission via the cover letter. Authors using AI tools must disclose this in the acknowledgments. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, validity, and integrity of their manuscript content.

Changes to Authorship

Authorship changes require approval from all authors, including those being removed. Requests must include a completed authorship change form with signatures and justification. Changes requested after acceptance will delay publication, and those after publication will require a correction.

Duties and Responsibilities

Authors
Authors must ensure all listed contributors meet authorship criteria and are collectively responsible for the work's content. They must identify funding sources, state research limitations, respond to reviewer comments scientifically and promptly, and declare that submitted material is original and not under consideration elsewhere.

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief determines the journal's scientific scope, editorial board composition, and relationships between stakeholders. They apply intellectual property rules, communicate journal policies, create a code of conduct, ensure timely publication, secure financial resources, build collaborative networks, work to improve quality, and manage legal aspects of publication.

Editors
Editors provide constructive feedback to improve manuscripts, maintain objectivity while favoring free expression, and ensure content avoids sensitive or controversial material that could harm the publisher. They address complaints, promote publication ethics education, and work with the Editor-in-Chief to prepare manuscripts for publication.

Reviewers
Reviewers provide impartial, objective feedback on manuscripts' scientific significance and contribution. They must maintain a professional, respectful tone and preserve confidentiality by not discussing manuscript contents with unauthorized individuals.

Complaints and Appeals

JOSEIT handles complaints according to COPE guidelines. Complainants should first contact corresponding authors to resolve issues directly. If this isn't feasible, complaints can be sent to the Editor-in-Chief.

Only complaints related to scientific or academic validity, ethical or legal aspects of the work or its review will be considered. Personal criticisms, inappropriate language, or false identities will not be entertained. The Editor-in-Chief may consult with the Advisory Editor and Associate Editor to determine whether investigation is warranted.

Authors may appeal rejection decisions, but not while their article is under consideration elsewhere. Successful appeals may lead to re-entry into peer review.

Research Misconduct

When misconduct is reported, the Editor-in-Chief investigates confidentially, contacting the section editor and corresponding author. The author must provide an explanation and evidence. Depending on findings, published articles may face erratum or retraction, while articles under review may be rejected.

JOSEIT uses industry-standard software to verify all submissions for plagiarism. Plagiarism during peer review results in rejection; plagiarism after publication triggers investigation and appropriate action.

Corrections and Retractions
JOSEIT categorizes corrections as minor (typographical errors) or substantive (significant content changes). Retractions involve complete removal of work.

The Editor-in-Chief considers retraction when:

1. Evidence shows findings are unreliable due to error, fabrication, or falsification
2. Publication constitutes plagiarism or unauthorized use of material
3. Findings were previously published without proper attribution
4. Copyright infringement or legal issues exist
5. Research was unethical or peer review was compromised
6. Authors failed to disclose major conflicts of interest

Retraction notices are linked to the retracted article, clearly labeled, promptly published, freely accessible, and state responsibility and reasons for retraction in objective language. Retraction is generally inappropriate for authorship disputes when findings remain valid, when corrections could sufficiently address errors, when evidence is inconclusive, or when undisclosed conflicts likely didn't influence conclusions.

By adhering to these ethical guidelines, JOSEIT aims to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in systems engineering and information technology.