The International Journal of Management Science and Operations Research (IJMSOR) is committed to handling all complaints, claims, and concerns in a timely, transparent, impartial, and constructive manner, ensuring the integrity of the editorial process and the trust of the academic community.

Editorial decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection are made exclusively by the editorial team based on scientific, ethical, and methodological criteria.

 

 1. Scope of the policy: This policy applies to complaints related to:

• Editorial processes (peer review, timelines, decisions)
• Ethical conduct of authors, reviewers, or editors
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Plagiarism or scientific misconduct
• Retractions, corrections, or editorial decisions

Complaints outside the journal’s editorial scope will not be processed.

 2. Handling procedure: All complaints will be:

• Formally received and recorded
• Evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief, with support from the Editorial Board and, when appropriate, the Scientific Board
• Assessed according to their nature, complexity, and impact

Cases involving legal implications will be referred to the appropriate authorities.

All decisions will follow COPE guidelines.

 3. Submission of complaints: Complaints must:

• Be submitted through official journal channels
• Clearly indicate the subject (COMPLAINT or APPEAL)
• Provide a precise description of the issue
• Include supporting evidence whenever possible

Communications must be respectful, objective, and professional.

 4. Response timelines: IJMSOR commits to:

• Responding within a maximum of 30 business days
• Informing the complainant if additional time is required due to case complexity

The process may involve internal review, additional inquiries, and ethical evaluation.

 5. Evaluation criterio: Complaints will be assessed based on:

• Provided evidence
• Compliance with ethical and editorial standards
• Impact on scientific integrity
• International guidelines (COPE)

Possible outcomes include:

• Dismissal of the complaint
• Requests for clarification
• Editorial actions (corrections, retractions, etc.)
• Institutional notification in serious cases

 6. Limitations: IJMSOR will not process:

• Personal complaints unrelated to editorial matters
• Offensive, defamatory, or threatening communications
• Claims lacking minimum evidence

In such cases, a response explaining inadmissibility will be provided.

 7. Principles of action: The journal ensures that complaint handling is guided by:

• Impartiality and due process
• Confidentiality
• Transparency
• Protection of academic integrity