Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern Policy

The International Journal of Business Operations and Management Studies is committed to maintaining the absolute integrity, accuracy, and traceability of the permanent scholarly record. In accordance with the guidelines and flowcharts established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal enforces formal mechanisms to address errors, omissions, or ethical irregularities discovered after an article has been published as the final Version of Record.

Once an article is published, it becomes part of the permanent academic archive. The journal will never silently alter or remove a published text. Instead, any necessary adjustments will be executed through formally published and linked amendments, ensuring full transparent accountability to the global research community.

1. Post-Publication Corrections (Erratum and Corrigendum)

Corrections are issued to remedy honest, non-fraudulent errors, omissions, or technical inaccuracies that do not compromise the core scientific validity, empirical results, or overarching conclusions of the research.

1.1 Classifications of Corrections

• Erratum: Issued when an error is introduced during the journal's internal processing, design, XML typesetting, or production stages (e.g., a misaligned data column in a publisher-formatted table).

• Corrigendum: Issued when an error is introduced by the authors themselves but not identified until post-publication (e.g., a typographical error in an algebraic equation, an omitted funding reference, or an inaccurate author affiliation).

1.2 Structural Execution

When a correction is approved, the original Version of Record remains online unaltered. A formal, separate correction notice is generated, assigned its own unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI), and assigned to the next available bi-monthly issue. This notice is electronically and bi-directionally linked to the original article, ensuring readers are instantly alerted to the modification.

2. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern is a formal administrative notice published at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. It serves to alert the scholarly community when serious concerns regarding the integrity or ethics of a paper have been raised, but an investigation has not yet reached a definitive conclusion.

                    [Plausible Allegation Received]
                                  │
                                  ▼
                    [Initial Editorial Assessment]
                                  │
         ┌────────────────────────┴────────────────────────┐
         ▼                                                 ▼
[Evidence Inconclusive]                            [Evidence Compelling]
(Investigation complex/prolonged)                  (Immediate resolution possible)
         │                                                 │
         ▼                                                 ▼
 [Publish Expression of Concern]                   [Skip directly to Final]
 (Alert community during ongoing probe)             (Correction or Retraction)

2.1 Criteria for Publication

The journal will consider publishing an Expression of Concern if:

• There is strong but inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct (such as data fabrication, systemic plagiarism, or unauthorized text reuse), and the authors' home institution refuses or delays an official investigation.

• An ongoing investigation into a complex issue is expected to take an extended period, and the Editor-in-Chief deems it vital to protect the scientific literature from potentially compromised findings in the interim.

Once a definitive resolution or institutional verdict is reached, the Expression of Concern will be formally closed and replaced by either a standard Correction or a formal Retraction.

3. Article Retraction

A formal retraction is an absolute, non-negotiable mechanism utilized to invalidate an article from the citable literature. Retractions are reserved for instances of severe academic malpractice or catastrophic honest errors that completely undermine the reliability of the research.

3.1 Primary Triggers for Retraction

In strict compliance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines, a paper will be retracted if:

• The Editorial Board uncovers clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to widespread data fabrication, falsification, or calculation errors.

• The article constitutes plagiarism or text recycling to a degree that invalidates the originality of the research framework.

• The manuscript contains data published without the authorization of the data owner, or violates fundamental institutional ethics approval mandates.

• The peer-review process was compromised through systemic manipulation (e.g., fraudulent reviewer accounts or hidden collusive networks).

3.2 Structural Execution and Transparency

To ensure full bibliographic transparency, a retracted paper is not deleted from the journal website or archiving networks. Instead, the following protocol is applied:

4. Handling Allegations and Appeals

Anyone who identifies a potential factual or ethical discrepancy in a published article is encouraged to notify the Editorial Office directly with a structured, evidence-based report.

The Editor-in-Chief will initiate a confidential review following the established COPE protocols, allowing the authors an opportunity to respond to the allegations. If an author wishes to contest an editorial determination regarding a retraction or expression of concern, a formal appeal may be submitted in writing to the journal’s independent Editorial Advisory Board for secondary review.