Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Applied Management, Business and Finance (AMBF) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal adheres to the principles and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved in the publication process—including editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher—are expected to act with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

1. Responsibilities of Editors
1.1 Editorial Independence and Impartiality

Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, including originality, methodological rigor, validity, and relevance to the journal's scope. Editorial decisions are made without discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, citizenship, religious belief, political ideology, or institutional affiliation.
The Editor-in-Chief holds final authority over editorial content and publication scheduling, independent of external influence.

1.2 Confidentiality

All information related to submitted manuscripts is treated as confidential. Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisors, and the publisher, as appropriate.

1.3 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors must not use unpublished material from submitted manuscripts for their own research without the author's written consent. Any conflicts of interest—whether competitive, collaborative, or institutional—must be disclosed. Editors with conflicts must recuse themselves and delegate handling of the manuscript to another qualified editor.

1.4 Publication Decisions

All manuscripts submitted to AMBF undergo a rigorous peer-review process involving at least two independent experts. Publication decisions are based on scholarly merit, reviewer recommendations, relevance to the field, and compliance with legal and ethical standards, including plagiarism and copyright laws.

1.5 Handling Ethical Concerns

Editors take all allegations of ethical misconduct seriously. Suspected or confirmed ethical violations will be investigated following COPE flowcharts. When misconduct is established, appropriate actions—including corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern—will be published.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers
2.1 Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer review supports editorial decision-making and helps authors improve their manuscripts. Reviewers are expected to contribute constructively and professionally.

2.2 Timeliness

Reviewers who are unable to complete a review within the requested timeframe, or who feel unqualified to assess the manuscript, should notify the editor promptly and decline the invitation.

2.3 Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review are confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with others without explicit authorization from the Editor-in-Chief.

2.4 Objectivity and Professional Conduct

Reviews must be objective, constructive, and free from personal criticism. Reviewers should clearly articulate their assessments with supporting arguments.

2.5 Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant prior work not cited by the authors and alert editors to any substantial similarity or overlap with other publications.

2.6 Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and decline reviews where such conflicts exist. Information obtained through peer review must not be used for personal or professional advantage.

3. Responsibilities of Authors
3.1 Reporting Standards

Authors must present an accurate, transparent, and objective account of their research. Manuscripts should include sufficient detail and references to allow replication. Fraudulent or misleading statements are unacceptable.

3.2 Data Availability and Retention

Authors may be requested to provide raw data for editorial review and should ensure data availability for at least ten years after publication, where possible, while respecting confidentiality and proprietary rights.

3.3 Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure their work is original. Proper citation is required when using the work or ideas of others. Plagiarism in any form is unethical and unacceptable.

3.4 Multiple or Concurrent Submission

Authors must not submit the same or substantially similar manuscripts to more than one journal simultaneously. Secondary publication may be permitted under specific conditions with full disclosure and consent.

3.5 Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should reflect significant contributions to the research. All listed authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged.

3.6 Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All financial and non-financial conflicts of interest must be disclosed, along with sources of funding.

3.7 Acknowledgement of Sources

Authors must properly acknowledge all sources of information and data, including unpublished or confidential material, with written permission where required.

3.8 Cooperation in the Peer Review Process

Authors are expected to respond to reviewer comments professionally and within the specified timeframe, and to cooperate in correcting errors when identified.

3.9 Fundamental Errors in Published Works

Authors must promptly inform the editor if a significant error is discovered in their published work and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.

3.10 Sex and Gender Equity (SAGER Guidelines)

AMBF supports the SAGER Guidelines. Authors should clearly distinguish between sex and gender, justify their use in study design, and disaggregate data where applicable.

4. Responsibilities of the Publisher
4.1 Handling Unethical Behavior

The publisher collaborates with editors to investigate allegations of misconduct and to implement corrective actions, including corrections or retractions, when necessary.

4.2 Archiving and Access

The publisher is committed to ensuring the permanent availability and preservation of published content through recognized digital archiving systems.

5. Transparency and Accountability

Editorial decisions are based solely on academic quality.

Reviewers must act impartially and disclose conflicts of interest.

Authors must present data honestly and disclose funding sources.

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

AMBF regulates the use of Artificial Intelligence as follows:

Authorship: AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) may not be listed as authors.

Images: AI-generated images are prohibited unless explicitly justified and disclosed.

Disclosure: Any use of AI in research or manuscript preparation must be transparently reported.

Editorial and Review Use: Editors and reviewers may not use generative AI to write decisions or reviews; AI use is limited to plagiarism detection.

7. Retraction Policy
7.1 Grounds for Retraction

Retractions may be issued for unreliable findings, plagiarism, duplicate publication, unethical research, or undisclosed conflicts of interest.

7.2 Retraction Process

Retractions may be initiated by authors, editors, or third parties. The Editor-in-Chief investigates all requests and determines appropriate action.

7.3 Retraction Notice

Retraction notices will be clearly linked to the original article, state the reasons for retraction, and be permanently indexed. In accordance with Indonesian regulations, retractions will also be reported to ANJANI (Anjungan Integritas Akademik Indonesia).

7.4 Post-Retraction Status

Retracted articles remain accessible but are clearly marked as "Retracted," and metadata will be updated accordingly.