Our journal strictly adheres to internationally recognized guidelines and standards for publication ethics as outlined by leading professional bodies including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE; https://publicationethics.org/) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (https://doaj.org/bestpractice). We commit to following COPE’s flowcharts for addressing instances of research and publication misconduct. The following is comprehensive information on our publishing ethics.
10.1 Authors' Responsibilities
(1) Ethical Standards
Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are written in accordance with the highest ethical standards. They should avoid any form of plagiarism, data falsification, and unethical research practices.
(2) Originality and Acknowledgment of Sources
All submissions must be original works by the authors. Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must be given where applicable. Authors should also disclose any conflicts of interest.
(3) Data Transparency and Accessibility
Authors should be prepared to provide access to data supporting their findings, subject to privacy and confidentiality constraints. They should ensure that their research data is robust, and capable of being replicated in independent analyses.
(4) Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors.
(5) Corrections and Retractions
If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they have a responsibility to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with them to correct or retract the paper.
(6) Fair Play and Impartiality
Authors should conduct their research impartially and objectively. Reviews and articles should be written and submitted in good faith and not for the purpose of any form of personal or professional gain.
(7) Engagement with the Peer Review Process
Authors are expected to engage constructively with the peer review process, responding promptly and respectfully to comments and suggestions from reviewers.
10.2 Editors' Responsibilities
(1) Ethical Oversight
Editors must ensure that all articles undergo a fair, unbiased, and rigorous peer review process and that the confidentiality of the manuscript is maintained throughout. They should also handle all submissions ethically and with integrity, without allowing personal or commercial interests to compromise intellectual and ethical standards.
(2) Decision Making
Editors are responsible for making editorial decisions on submitted manuscripts based solely on the paper's relevance, originality, clarity, and alignment with the journal's scope. They must also ensure that each manuscript receives a thorough evaluation by qualified reviewers.
(3) Conflict of Interest
Editors should avoid any potential conflict of interest by disclosing any relationships that could influence their editorial decisions. They must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they might have conflicts of interest with any of the authors or institutions connected to the papers.
(4) Engagement with Peer Review Process
Editors should guide the peer review process constructively and transparently, selecting appropriate reviewers and ensuring timely review feedback.
(5) Quality Control
Editors should work to maintain the quality of the publications by overseeing the review process and ensuring adherence to academic and publishing standards.
(6) Transparency
The process by which decisions are made should be clear and available to both authors and reviewers.
10.3 Reviewers' Responsibilities
(1) Ethical Conduct
Reviewers should conduct their reviews impartially and objectively. They are expected to maintain confidentiality about the manuscripts they review and should not share any information about the manuscript with outside parties.
(2) Constructive Criticism
It is important for reviewers to provide constructive feedback that is both fair and courteous. They should clearly explain their assessments, including both strengths and weaknesses, and suggest improvements in a supportive manner.
(3) Disclosure of Conflicts
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the editors. If a substantial conflict exists, it is advisable for them to decline the review assignment.
(4) Timeliness
Reviewers should complete their reviews within the specified timeline provided by the journal. If they anticipate delays, they should notify the editor as soon as possible and may suggest alternative reviewers if unable to commit.
(5) Competence
Reviewers should accept assignments only for manuscripts for which they have the subject expertise required to carry out a proper assessment. They should decline to review manuscripts beyond their expertise.
(6) Integrity and Impartiality
Decisions should be based solely on the manuscript's scientific merit, relevance, and originality, without influence from the authors' race, nationality, or other personal characteristics.
10.4 Conflict of Interest Disclosure
The corresponding author is required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that might affect the interpretation of the data, such as financial, political, or academic influences. It is imperative that all funding sources are explicitly disclosed.
10.5 Originality and Plagiarism
Manuscripts must be original, not previously published, nor under consideration elsewhere. Any part of the accepted manuscript must not be published elsewhere without the explicit permission of the Editorial Board. We conduct plagiarism checks on all submissions. Detected plagiarism or duplicate publication may lead to rejection, public notification, and penalties.
10.6 Managing Misconduct
In cases of suspected misconduct (e.g., duplicate publication, plagiarism, data falsification, undisclosed conflicts of interest), our procedures align with COPE’s guidelines (http://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts). The Editorial Board will review and decide on these cases.
10.7 Procedures for Handling Complaints and Appeals
(1) Initial Acknowledgment
Upon receiving a complaint or appeal, the journal should immediately acknowledge receipt and outline the expected timeline for a response. This step reassures the complainant that their issue is being processed.
(2) Evaluation
Initially, the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor should assess the complaint to gauge its severity and type. This evaluation may include preliminary talks with those involved or a review of pertinent documents and guidelines.
(3) In-depth Investigation
More complex or grave issues may warrant a comprehensive inquiry. This investigation could entail collecting additional evidence, consulting with internal or external experts, or adhering to investigative steps recommended by ethical standards like those from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE; http://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts).
(4) Decision Process
After the investigation, the Editor-in-Chief, along with senior editorial staff if necessary, should decide on the course of action. Options might include maintaining the initial decision, revising it, or seeking further opinions if the matter is not resolved.
(5) Communication
The decision and its rationale should be clearly communicated to the complainant. If the decision is intricate, a detailed explanation will aid in clarifying the reasons for the outcome.
(6) Recording and Feedback
Documenting all complaints and appeals is crucial for enhancing the management of future incidents. It is also advisable to gather feedback from all stakeholders to refine and enhance the procedure.
(7) Resolution
The resolution of complaints should be prompt and communicated to all involved parties. If dissatisfaction persists, the complainant should be informed about how to escalate their issue, possibly to an external organization like COPE.
10.8 Management of Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections
The procedures detailed here are established to ensure that our journal's handling of post-publication discussions and corrections meets the ethical guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics.(COPE; http://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts)
(1) Corrections and Updates
Should any errors be discovered that might impact the interpretation or trustworthiness of a published article, our journal is committed to issuing necessary corrections or errata. This process includes the publication of a formal notice detailing the error and the amendments made, thereby safeguarding the integrity and precision of the research.
(2) Retractions and Expressions of Concern
For serious ethical violations or errors that significantly impair the integrity of the research, retracting the article may be required. If issues are still under investigation or remain unresolved, the journal may publish an expression of concern to inform readers about the ongoing issues.
(3) Engagement and Notification
It is crucial for the journal to maintain open communication with all stakeholders involved in a post-publication correction or retraction, including the authors, the readership, and the broader research community. This practice ensures transparency and maintains the publication's ethical standards.
(4) Documentation and Accessibility
All notices of corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern must be readily accessible and directly linked to the original article. This ensures that all changes are clearly documented and easy for readers to find, maintaining a transparent and accessible record.
10.9 Copyright Policy
All rights to materials published are held by the Chinese Association of Business and Management Technology and the College of Management of the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology. As part of the submission process, authors are required to assign copyright to the society.
10.10 Data Sharing Policy
CMQ promotes the sharing of data whenever feasible, except in cases where ethical, privacy, or confidentiality concerns prohibit it. Authors are encouraged to store their research data in a publicly available repository and provide a link to the DOI in the manuscript text.
CMQ is issued quarterly, with editions released on the final day of March, June, September, and December each year.
CMQ operates as an open-access publication. All articles are available for unlimited non-commercial sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any format, provided the original authorship is appropriately acknowledged.
Commerce & Management Quarterly ensures the preservation and continued accessibility of its journal content through electronic archiving. Should the journal cease publication, archived issues will be available via the National Central Library of Taiwan (https://enwww.ncl.edu.tw/), the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology Library (https://www.lib.yuntech.edu.tw/wSite/mp), the College of Management of the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (https://www.cm.yuntech.edu.tw/ ), and the Chinese Association of Business and Management Technology (https://www.cabmt.org.tw/front/index.php).
The journal's revenue is derived from three main sources: support from the College of Management of the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, financial assistance from the Chinese Association of Business and Management Technology, and author fees.
CMQ does not accept any commercial product advertisements until policy changes otherwise.
The dissemination of the journal is achieved through its website. Typically, invitations to submit manuscripts are extended primarily to individuals presenting at conferences, seminars, or workshops, provided their topics align with the journal's aims and scope.