Publication Ethics and Transparency Policy

Purpose and Scope

The Journal of Leadership, Ethics, Governance, and Sustainable Innovation (JLEGSI) is an open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal committed to publishing high-quality research that advances the fields of leadership, governance, ethical decision-making and sustainable innovation.

The purpose of these guidelines is to:

• Uphold the integrity of the scholarly record by preventing research misconduct.
• Provide a transparent framework for responsible research conduct.
• Guide authors, reviewers, editors and publishers in maintaining high ethical standards throughout the publication process.
• Ensure alignment with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and DOAJ International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations.

These guidelines are based on the following internationally endorsed frameworks:

• The Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (4th edition, 2022) jointly issued by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME (https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.12).

They ensure transparency and accountability throughout the research and publication lifecycle from submission and peer review to post-publication correction and archiving.

These guidelines apply to all submissions, including empirical articles, theoretical papers, case studies, book reviews, editorials and commentaries.

Editorial Independence and Governance

All editorial decisions are made independently by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board.

Editorial Independence

• Editors have full authority over editorial content, selection and peer review.
• The journal does not permit commercial or institutional influence over editorial decisions.
• Decisions to accept or reject manuscripts are based solely on academic merit, originality and relevance to the journal’s scope.

Governance Structure

• The editorial team includes the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors,  and the Editorial Advisory Board.
• All editorial members are selected based on expertise, reputation and commitment to publication ethics.
• The governance model ensures clear separation between editorial and business operations.

Intellectual property and journal management transparency

JLEGSI upholds COPE’s Journal Management principle, ensuring that intellectual property, copyright and licensing decisions are transparent and that ownership does not interfere with editorial independence or integrity.

Conflicts of Interest and Funding Transparency

To maintain trust in the scientific record, transparency of relationships and funding is required.

• Author Declarations: All authors must declare any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the work.
• Reviewer and Editor Declarations: Reviewers and editors must withdraw from handling papers where conflicts exist (e.g., recent collaboration, shared funding, or institutional ties).
• Funding Disclosure: All financial support must be disclosed in the acknowledgements, including grant numbers, institutions, or sponsors.
• Publisher Independence: Funding sources do not influence the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.

Authorship Criteria

Authors must meet all four of the following criteria:

1. Substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.
2. Drafting or critically revising the work for intellectual content.
3. Approval of the final version to be published.

Contributor Roles

Each author must specify their role(s), such as Conceptualisation, Methodology, Data Curation, Writing Original Draft, Writing – Review & Editing, Supervision, or Funding Acquisition.

Authorship Changes

Any request to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must include written consent from all authors, with justification reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief.

Acknowledgements

Non-author contributors (e.g., language editors, advisors, AI tools used ethically, or funding agencies) must be acknowledged, with consent from the individuals named.

Data Availability and Sharing Policy

Data Availability

Authors must provide a Data Availability Statement (DAS) specifying how data, materials and code can be accessed.

Data Repositories

The journal encourages depositing data in open repositories such as Zenodo, Figshare, OSF, or institutional repositories following the FAIR Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Sensitive Data

Where confidentiality or national privacy laws restrict data sharing, authors must provide a rationale and specify how qualified researchers may request access.

Research Ethics, Consent and Community Engagement

Human and Animal Research

All research involving humans must comply with institutional and national ethical guidelines, such as the Declaration of Helsinki (2013).
Animal studies must comply with the ARRIVE Guidelines and relevant animal welfare legislation.

Informed Consent

Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained for all human participants and that participant anonymity has been protected.

Community and Indigenous Research

For research involving indigenous or rural communities, authors must demonstrate cultural sensitivity, community consultation and ethical approval from appropriate local bodies. Benefit-sharing should be clearly described.

Ethical Approval

Submissions must include the name of the ethics committee, approval reference number and compliance statement.

Research Integrity and Misconduct

JLEGSI strictly enforces research integrity and does not tolerate misconduct of any form.

Misconduct Includes:

• Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data or images.
• Plagiarism or self-plagiarism.
• Undeclared conflicts of interest.
• Peer review manipulation.
• Unethical or unauthorised AI-generated content.

Detection and Investigation

All submissions are checked using plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate).
If potential misconduct is detected, the Editor-in-Chief will follow COPE’s investigation procedures, which may involve contacting the author’s institution.

Outcomes

Possible actions include:

• Correction for minor errors.
• Retraction for unreliable findings.
• Expression of Concern where investigations are ongoing.
• Rejection or Ban for proven misconduct.

Ethical Concerns and Allegations of Misconduct

The Journal of Leadership, Ethics, Governance, and Sustainable Innovation (JLEGSI) is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability in all editorial and publishing processes. Authors, reviewers and readers are entitled to raise concerns regarding editorial decisions, peer-review procedures, or ethical matters. All such submissions are handled in a professional, impartial and timely manner, following the COPE flowcharts and principles of natural justice.

Appeals

Authors have the right to appeal editorial or peer-review decisions if they believe that:

• The decision was based on a factual or procedural error;
• The reviewers or editors misunderstood aspects of the work;
• There was a breach of the journal’s peer-review policy; or
• There is new evidence or information that could significantly alter the decision.

 Our Appeal Procedure

1. Submission of Appeal:
   Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief at editorial@partidosa.com within 30 days of receiving the decision letter. The appeal must include:
   • The manuscript reference number;
   • A clear statement of the grounds for appeal; and
   • Supporting evidence or documentation.
2. Initial Review:
   The Editor-in-Chief will acknowledge receipt within seven working days and perform an initial assessment to determine whether the appeal is eligible for further consideration.
3. Independent Assessment:
   • If deemed valid, the case will be referred to an Appeals Sub-Committee composed of editors not involved in the original decision.
   • The committee may seek an additional external review if necessary to ensure impartiality.
4. Outcome and Notification:
   • Possible outcomes include upholding, modifying, or reversing the initial decision.
   • Authors will receive a written explanation of the outcome within six weeks of submission.
   • Decisions of the Appeals Sub-Committee are final.

Scope of Appeal

Appeals must address the editorial process or decision reasoning—not reviewer opinions or preferences alone.
Repeated appeals without new evidence or based on disagreement with editorial judgement will not be considered.

Complaints

Complaints provide an avenue for stakeholders (authors, reviewers, or readers) to report dissatisfaction with the journal’s conduct, procedures, or staff behaviour. JLEGSI handles complaints respectfully and transparently to preserve trust in the publication process.

Grounds for Complaint

Valid complaints may include:

• Undue delay in the review or publication process;
• Unprofessional or biased editorial or reviewer behaviour;
• Lack of response to communication;
• Breach of confidentiality;
• Technical or procedural errors in publication; or
• Non-adherence to the journal’s stated policies.

Complaint Submission Process

1. Stage 1: Informal Resolution:
   Complainants should first contact the Managing Editor at editorial@partidosa.com, providing a concise description of the issue. Most matters are resolved informally at this stage.
2. Stage 2: Formal Complaint:
   If unresolved, a formal written complaint may be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days.
   The submission should include supporting documentation and a desired resolution.
3. Stage 3: Escalation:
   Should the complainant remain dissatisfied, the case will be referred to the Editorial Ethics Committee, composed of senior editorial members and an independent advisor.
4. Response Timeline:
   • Acknowledgement within seven working days;
   • Investigation completed within six weeks;
   • Written outcome communicated to the complainant.

Ethical Allegations

The journal recognises a wide range of ethical breaches that may arise during submission, review, or post-publication. These include, but are not limited to:

• Plagiarism

Reproducing text, figures, tables, or data from other works without appropriate citation or permission, including self-plagiarism and image duplication.

• Redundant or Duplicate Publication

Submitting or publishing the same or substantially similar work in more than one journal without proper disclosure or justification.

• Fabrication or Falsification of Data

Creating, manipulating, or misrepresenting research data, figures, or images.

• Undeclared Conflicts of Interest

Failing to disclose financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the objectivity or interpretation of research findings.

• Authorship Disputes

Misrepresentation of author contributions, exclusion of legitimate contributors, or inappropriate inclusion of individuals who did not contribute significantly.

• Breach of Peer Review Confidentiality

Sharing confidential manuscripts, reviewer identities, or using privileged information for personal advantage.

• Misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Employing AI to fabricate data, generate text, or produce citations without full disclosure and verification by the authors.

Reporting Allegations

Ethical concerns may be raised by readers, reviewers, editors, or institutions by contacting editor@jlegsi.com.
Anonymous reports are accepted but must provide sufficient evidence to enable investigation.

Investigation Process

1. Acknowledgement: The report will be acknowledged within five working days.
2. Preliminary Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief determines whether the allegation falls within the journal’s remit and whether sufficient evidence exists.
3. Institutional Notification: If the concern involves research misconduct, the journal will inform the author’s institution or funding agency in accordance with COPE procedures.
4. Outcome: Depending on findings, actions may include:
   • Requesting corrections or clarifications;
   • Issuing an Expression of Concern;
   • Retracting the publication; or
   • Banning the author from future submissions.

The journal follows COPE’s Retraction Guidelines and Flowcharts for Ethical Allegations throughout.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

• All appeals, complaints and allegations are handled confidentially.
• Information is shared only with individuals directly involved in the investigation.
• Data are stored securely in compliance with POPIA (South Africa) regulations.
• Whistle-blowers or complainants acting in good faith are protected from retaliation.

Documentation and Transparency

• A summary record of all appeals and complaints (excluding personal identifiers) is maintained by the editorial office for continuous quality improvement.
• The journal may publish anonymised statistics annually to promote transparency—for example, the number of appeals received, resolved, or upheld.

External Mediation

If a complaint or ethical concern cannot be resolved internally, JLEGSI may seek external mediation from COPE or another recognised independent body to ensure impartial adjudication.