Journal Management and Editorial Independence Policy

1. Introduction

The International Journal of Agricultural Sciences (IJASC) is committed to maintaining transparent, accountable, ethical, and sustainable journal management while safeguarding editorial independence and academic integrity. The journal recognises that effective scholarly publishing requires a clearly defined governance structure, competent editorial leadership, reliable operational procedures, appropriate technical infrastructure, and a transparent relationship between the journal's owner, publisher, editors, authors, reviewers, and other stakeholders.

This policy establishes the principles and procedures governing the management of IJASC and the independence of its editorial decision-making. It is intended to ensure that manuscripts are assessed and publication decisions are made on the basis of scholarly merit, relevance to the journal's aims and scope, methodological quality, originality, research integrity, ethical compliance, and the results of appropriate peer review.

IJASC recognises that journal ownership, institutional affiliation, financial support, administrative arrangements, and publishing infrastructure are important to the sustainability of a scholarly journal. However, these arrangements must not compromise the independent academic judgment of editors or create preferential treatment for particular authors, institutions, sponsors, or other interested parties.

The journal therefore seeks to establish a clear separation between governance and administrative responsibilities, on the one hand, and editorial decision-making, on the other. Responsibilities and lines of accountability should be defined to prevent inappropriate interference, manage conflicts of interest, protect confidential information, and maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

IJASC's management practices are informed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices, particularly the principles concerning journal management, and by the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. These frameworks emphasise transparent ownership, clear editorial responsibilities, appropriate policies and infrastructure, and editorial decisions that are free from improper political, financial, institutional, or personal influence.

This policy applies to the journal owner or publishing institution, the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, the Editorial Board, managing and administrative personnel, reviewers, and other individuals involved in journal governance and publication operations. It should be read in conjunction with IJASC's other publication ethics policies.

2. Description

2.1. Journal Management

Journal management encompasses the governance, strategic planning, editorial administration, financial arrangements, technical infrastructure, production activities, and quality-assurance procedures required for the effective and sustainable operation of IJASC.

Its principal components include:

Governance and ownership: the identification of the journal owner, publisher, governing authority, and institutional relationships.
Editorial leadership: the allocation of authority and responsibilities to the Editor-in-Chief and other editorial personnel.
Editorial board management: the appointment, evaluation, development, and support of qualified editorial personnel.
Editorial operations: the administration of manuscript submissions, peer review, editorial decisions, revisions, copyediting, production, and publication.
Financial and administrative management: the transparent management of resources, publication charges where applicable, institutional support, and other operating costs.
Technical infrastructure: the use of appropriate manuscript-management systems, website facilities, metadata services, persistent identifiers, and digital preservation arrangements.
Publication ethics and research integrity: the implementation of procedures for handling conflicts of interest, suspected misconduct, complaints, appeals, corrections, retractions, and other publication-related concerns.
Communication and transparency: the provision of accurate, accessible, and current information about the journal's scope, policies, editorial team, review processes, fees, and publication practices.
Quality assurance and development: the periodic evaluation of editorial performance, publication quality, workflow efficiency, and compliance with established policies.

Effective journal management requires these components to function coherently under a transparent governance framework.

2.2. Editorial Independence

Editorial independence is the principle that decisions about the assessment, revision, acceptance, rejection, and publication of manuscripts are made by authorised editors using independent academic judgment and established editorial criteria.

Editorial independence protects the integrity of scholarly communication by ensuring that publication decisions are not improperly influenced by considerations unrelated to the scientific and academic quality of a submission.

Potential sources of inappropriate influence include:

Journal owners or publishing institutions;
University administrators or other institutional authorities;
Sponsors, funders, advertisers, or commercial partners;
Authors, reviewers, or their representatives;
Personal, professional, or financial relationships;
Political, ideological, or reputational interests;
Publication revenue or institutional performance targets; and
Pressure to publish or suppress particular findings.

Editorial independence does not exempt the journal from applicable laws, legitimate governance requirements, publication ethics standards, or its own published policies. It means that these responsibilities must be implemented through appropriate procedures without allowing non-scholarly interests to dictate the outcome of an individual manuscript's editorial assessment.

2.3. Journal Ownership and Institutional Governance

Journal ownership refers to the individual, institution, department, organisation, or other legal entity that holds responsibility for the journal's institutional or organisational existence. The publisher, where distinct from the owner, is responsible for the publishing services and arrangements agreed with the journal.

The owner or governing institution may establish the journal's broad objectives, provide resources, approve general administrative arrangements, and oversee institutional accountability. These responsibilities should be distinguished from decisions about individual manuscripts.

A transparent governance structure should identify:

The journal's owner and publisher, as applicable;
The institutional or organisational unit responsible for journal administration;
The Editor-in-Chief and editorial leadership;
The Editorial Board and its functions;
The editorial office and operational support personnel; and
The procedures governing the relationship between editorial leadership and the owner or publisher.

Where responsibilities are shared among different parties, their respective authority and accountability should be documented.

2.4. Editorial Leadership and Decision-Making Authority

Editorial leadership comprises the Editor-in-Chief and other editors formally authorised to manage submissions and make or recommend editorial decisions.

The Editor-in-Chief is ordinarily responsible for the journal's editorial direction, consistent application of publication policies, and final editorial decisions, subject to the journal's formally approved governance arrangements.

Associate Editors and other designated editors may manage manuscripts within their subject expertise, coordinate peer review, evaluate reviewer reports, and recommend decisions. Their authority should be clearly defined, and any delegated decision-making should remain consistent with the journal's policies.

Editorial authority must be exercised with professional independence, fairness, impartiality, confidentiality, and accountability.

2.5. Editorial Board

The Editorial Board provides scholarly expertise and strategic advice to support the journal's academic quality and development. Its responsibilities may include advising on editorial policy, contributing to the identification of suitable reviewers, supporting the peer-review process, identifying developments in agricultural sciences, and promoting responsible scholarly communication.

Editorial Board members should possess relevant subject expertise, demonstrate professional integrity, and understand the journal's publication ethics requirements.

Membership of the Editorial Board does not automatically confer authority to determine the outcome of every manuscript. Individual editorial responsibilities should be assigned according to the journal's documented procedures.

2.6. Editorial Office and Administrative Management

The editorial office supports the daily operation of the journal. Its activities may include submission processing, correspondence, reviewer invitations, manuscript tracking, deadline monitoring, metadata management, copyediting coordination, publication scheduling, website maintenance, and record keeping.

Administrative personnel facilitate editorial decisions but should not substitute administrative preferences for academic judgment. Any technical or administrative screening should follow established criteria and must not be used to manipulate the substantive outcome of the editorial process.

2.7. Financial Sustainability and Business Practices

A journal requires sufficient resources to maintain its editorial operations, technical systems, production services, and long-term availability of published content. Its financial model may involve institutional support, grants, publication charges, sponsorship, or other legitimate sources of funding, depending on its formally approved arrangements.

Financial sustainability must be pursued transparently and consistently with publication ethics. Revenue considerations must not determine whether an individual manuscript is accepted, rejected, prioritised, or published.

Where author fees or other charges apply, the journal should publish clear information about their amount, purpose, timing, applicable exemptions or waivers, and relationship to the editorial process. Payment must not guarantee acceptance, preferential peer review, or a favourable editorial decision.

2.8. Editorial Conflicts of Interest

An editorial conflict of interest arises when an editor's personal, professional, institutional, financial, or other interests could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, impartial editorial judgment.

Such conflicts may involve a manuscript authored by a colleague, collaborator, student, supervisor, family member, institutional affiliate, or close professional associate. They may also arise from financial interests, competitive relationships, disputes, or involvement in the work being evaluated.

Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and managed through appropriate reassignment, recusal, independent review, or other safeguards. Disclosure alone is not always sufficient; the journal must take reasonable steps to ensure that the conflicted person does not improperly influence the editorial outcome.

2.9. Transparency and Accountability

Transparency means that the journal provides accurate, accessible, and current information about its identity, ownership, editorial structure, publication processes, policies, and business practices.

Accountability means that individuals entrusted with editorial or administrative responsibilities are expected to comply with their assigned duties, follow the journal's policies, preserve appropriate records, and respond constructively to legitimate concerns.

Transparency and accountability strengthen confidence in the journal and provide a basis for evaluating whether its actual practices are consistent with its stated policies.

3. Policy

3.1. Ownership, Governance, and Institutional Relationships

IJASC shall maintain a transparent governance framework identifying its owner, publisher where applicable, responsible institutional unit, editorial leadership, and principal operational responsibilities.

The journal's website shall provide accurate information about its ownership and publishing arrangements. Where the journal operates under the authority of an academic institution or other organisation, the relationship between that organisation and the journal shall be described clearly.

The owner or governing institution may establish the journal's strategic direction, approve general administrative arrangements, provide resources, and oversee legitimate institutional obligations. However, institutional authority shall not be used to predetermine the acceptance or rejection of individual manuscripts or to bypass established editorial procedures.

Any formal agreement between the journal's editorial leadership and its owner or publisher should define the respective responsibilities of the parties, including the protection of editorial independence, the allocation of resources, procedures for resolving disagreements, and arrangements for leadership transitions.

3.2. Protection of Editorial Independence

IJASC shall protect the independent academic judgment of its authorised editors.

Editorial decisions shall be based on relevant considerations, including:

Relevance to the journal's aims and scope;
Originality and contribution to agricultural sciences;
Scientific and methodological quality;
Validity and clarity of the research;
Appropriate interpretation of results;
Compliance with research and publication ethics;
The substance and quality of peer-review reports; and
Compliance with the journal's published editorial requirements.

No manuscript shall receive preferential treatment or be disadvantaged solely because of the author's institutional affiliation, academic rank, nationality, personal relationships, political or ideological views, financial status, or ability to pay a publication charge.

The journal shall not accept instructions from owners, institutional officers, sponsors, advertisers, funders, or other interested parties to accept, reject, delay, suppress, or alter a manuscript for reasons unrelated to legitimate editorial, ethical, or legal considerations.

Editorial independence also applies to decisions about corrections, expressions of concern, retractions, and other post-publication actions. Such decisions must follow the journal's established policies and be guided by the reliability and integrity of the scholarly record.

3.3. Authority and Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief shall have clearly defined authority over the journal's editorial operations, consistent with the journal's formally approved governance arrangements.

The responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief shall include:

Establishing and maintaining the journal's editorial direction within its aims and scope.
Ensuring that manuscripts are assessed fairly, consistently, and in accordance with published policies.
Making or confirming final editorial decisions where this authority has been assigned to the Editor-in-Chief.
Assigning manuscripts to appropriate Associate Editors or other authorised editors.
Ensuring that peer review is conducted by qualified and sufficiently independent reviewers.
Identifying and managing editorial conflicts of interest.
Overseeing the handling of allegations of misconduct, complaints, appeals, and serious ethical concerns.
Ensuring that editorial decisions are adequately documented.
Protecting confidential manuscript information and reviewer identities where applicable.
Supporting the accuracy and integrity of the published scholarly record.
Ensuring that editorial personnel receive appropriate guidance on journal policies and publication ethics.
Reviewing the effectiveness of editorial workflows and recommending improvements.

The Editor-in-Chief shall exercise these responsibilities without improper interference from non-editorial interests. Where a matter involves a conflict of interest, a complaint against the Editor-in-Chief, or another circumstance that prevents impartial handling, the journal shall use an appropriate independent alternative procedure.

3.4. Responsibilities of Associate Editors and Other Editors

Associate Editors and other authorised editors shall manage manuscripts within their assigned subject areas and responsibilities.

Their duties may include assessing initial suitability, identifying qualified reviewers, monitoring review progress, evaluating reviewer reports, requesting revisions, and recommending or making decisions within their delegated authority.

Editors shall:

Apply the journal's criteria consistently;
Evaluate the substance of reviewer comments rather than merely counting recommendations;
Seek additional expertise when existing reviews are insufficient or materially conflicting;
Avoid bias and preferential treatment;
Maintain confidentiality;
Disclose and manage conflicts of interest;
Recognise potential ethical or methodological concerns; and
Provide reasoned editorial communications appropriate to the decision.

An editor shall not accept a manuscript merely because it is recommended by a senior colleague, institutional authority, or influential individual. Equally, an editor shall not reject a manuscript solely because its findings are controversial, unexpected, or inconsistent with the editor's personal views, provided that the work meets the journal's legitimate scholarly and ethical standards.

3.5. Appointment, Composition, and Management of the Editorial Board

The appointment of the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board members shall be based on relevant academic expertise, professional integrity, experience or capacity in scholarly publishing, and commitment to the journal's aims, scope, and ethical standards.

The journal should seek an Editorial Board that provides appropriate subject coverage and, where practicable, diversity in institutional affiliation, geographical representation, disciplinary expertise, and academic experience.

The journal shall publish accurate names, institutional affiliations, and editorial roles for its editorial personnel. Membership shall not be represented in a manner that falsely implies an individual's consent, active participation, or endorsement.

The journal should provide editorial personnel with clear descriptions of their roles, expected contributions, terms of service where applicable, confidentiality obligations, conflict-of-interest requirements, and procedures for resignation or replacement.

Editorial Board members should contribute meaningfully to the journal's academic development. Their names shall not be used solely to create an appearance of prestige without their informed agreement.

Appointments and changes to editorial leadership shall be handled through documented procedures. Changes shall be communicated and reflected on the journal's website in a timely manner.

3.6. Editorial Office and Operational Procedures

IJASC shall maintain documented procedures for submission handling, editorial assignment, peer review, decision communication, revision management, production, publication, and post-publication actions.

The editorial office shall support efficient and consistent processing while respecting the authority of the editors responsible for academic decisions.

Administrative screening may assess completeness of submissions, compliance with formatting requirements, scope, required declarations, ethical documentation, and other published submission criteria. Where a manuscript is returned or declined at the administrative or preliminary assessment stage, the reason should be consistent with the journal's stated requirements.

The journal shall use an appropriate manuscript-management system or equivalent documented workflow to support submission tracking, communication, reviewer management, decision records, and publication preparation.

Operational efficiency shall not be pursued at the expense of adequate peer review, ethical scrutiny, confidentiality, or the quality of editorial decisions.

3.7. Peer Review and Editorial Decision-Making

Peer review shall be conducted in accordance with IJASC's published Peer Review Policy. The journal shall clearly describe its review model and the principal stages of assessment.

Editors shall select reviewers based on relevant expertise, independence, and suitability for the manuscript. They should consider potential conflicts of interest and take reasonable steps to avoid reliance on reviewers whose interests may compromise impartiality.

Reviewer recommendations are advisory unless the journal's published procedures expressly establish a different role. The responsible editor shall evaluate the arguments, evidence, and relevance of the reviews before reaching a decision.

Where reviewer reports conflict, are insufficiently reasoned, or raise unresolved methodological or ethical concerns, the editor may seek additional review or request clarification. Decisions should not be based solely on reviewer preference, personal disagreement, or pressure from interested parties.

The journal shall communicate decisions through appropriate editorial channels and provide explanations proportionate to the decision and circumstances.

3.8. Editorial Conflicts of Interest and Recusal

All editors, Editorial Board members, and editorial staff shall disclose relevant conflicts of interest and comply with the journal's Conflicts of Interest Policy.

An editor with a relevant conflict shall not manage or decide the affected manuscript. The manuscript shall be reassigned to an appropriately qualified and independent editor.

Recusal may be required where the editor:

Is an author or co-author of the submission;
Has a close personal or professional relationship with an author;
Has a significant financial or competing interest;
Has recently collaborated with an author in circumstances that could compromise impartiality;
Has a direct competitive interest in the work; or
Is otherwise unable to make an impartial assessment.

The journal shall document the reassignment or other management measure where appropriate. Confidentiality shall be maintained throughout the process.

Where the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict, the manuscript shall be handled by a designated independent editor or another authorised person who is not conflicted. The Editor-in-Chief shall not intervene in the decision outside the responsibilities permitted by the journal's procedures.

3.9. Manuscripts Submitted by Editors, Editorial Board Members, or Staff

Editors, Editorial Board members, and editorial staff may submit manuscripts to IJASC, subject to the journal's submission and ethics requirements.

Such submissions shall be evaluated according to the same academic and ethical criteria applied to other manuscripts. An author's editorial position, institutional influence, or relationship with the journal shall not confer preferential treatment.

The submitting individual shall not participate in selecting reviewers, accessing confidential deliberations, directing the handling editor, or making decisions about their own manuscript.

An independent, appropriately qualified editor shall manage the submission from initial assessment through final decision. Where necessary, additional safeguards shall be used to protect reviewer confidentiality and the independence of the process.

The journal should ensure that any relevant conflicts and the arrangements used to manage them are documented.

3.10. Independence from Authors, Reviewers, and External Parties

Authors shall not attempt to influence editorial decisions through personal pressure, institutional authority, financial inducements, threats, inappropriate contact with reviewers, or other improper means.

Reviewers shall provide independent, evidence-based assessments within the scope of their expertise. They shall not use their role to promote personal interests, suppress competing research, demand irrelevant citations, or exert pressure unrelated to legitimate scholarly assessment.

External experts, advisory groups, and institutional representatives may provide relevant advice when appropriate. However, such advice shall not replace the authority of the editor responsible for the manuscript unless a formal and transparent policy expressly provides otherwise.

Any attempt to improperly influence an editorial decision may be referred to the Editor-in-Chief or the appropriate independent authority and handled under the journal's relevant policies.

3.11. Independence from Funders, Sponsors, and Commercial Interests

Funding, sponsorship, advertising, partnerships, or other commercial arrangements shall not determine editorial decisions.

Authors shall disclose relevant funding and, where applicable, describe the funder's role in research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and the decision to submit or publish the work.

Funders and sponsors shall not be permitted to require the acceptance, rejection, suppression, or alteration of a manuscript as a condition of financial or institutional support.

If IJASC accepts advertising or sponsorship, the journal shall maintain a clear distinction between commercial content and editorial content. Any advertising policy shall describe the types of advertising accepted, the process for reviewing advertisements, and the safeguards used to prevent commercial influence over editorial decisions.

If the journal does not accept advertising or sponsorship, that position should be stated accurately in its public information. No policy statement shall imply an arrangement that does not exist in practice.

3.12. Financial Transparency, Publication Charges, and Resource Allocation

IJASC shall maintain transparent information about its financial and operating arrangements to the extent appropriate and consistent with institutional requirements.

Where author fees, article processing charges, submission charges, or other publication-related payments apply, the journal shall publish clear information about the applicable amounts, payment conditions, waivers or discounts where available, and the services or costs they support.

Editorial decisions shall be made independently of payment status, except for legitimate administrative requirements applied transparently and consistently under the journal's published policies. Payment shall not guarantee acceptance or shorten the review process through preferential treatment.

The journal should maintain appropriate administrative records for its operating costs, funding sources, and financial commitments. Individuals responsible for financial management shall not use financial authority to override the academic decisions of authorised editors.

Resource limitations may affect operational capacity, scheduling, or the services the journal can sustain. They must not be used as a pretext for covertly manipulating the scholarly evaluation of individual submissions.

3.13. Technical Infrastructure, Digital Security, and Preservation

IJASC shall maintain appropriate technical infrastructure to support reliable journal operations, protect manuscript information, and preserve published content.

The journal should use a suitable online journal management system or equivalent documented procedures for submissions, peer review, editorial decisions, and publication workflows. Access permissions should reflect the responsibilities of users and should be reviewed when personnel change roles or leave the journal.

The journal shall take reasonable measures to protect unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, author information, editorial correspondence, and other confidential records from unauthorised access, disclosure, loss, or alteration.

Published content should be supported by appropriate digital preservation and archiving arrangements. Persistent identifiers, accurate metadata, reliable publication files, and stable access mechanisms should be used where applicable and available.

Technical systems are intended to support editorial independence and operational integrity. System administrators or technical personnel shall not use their access to alter editorial outcomes or disclose confidential material without proper authorisation.

3.14. Website Transparency and Public Information

The IJASC website shall provide accurate and accessible information necessary for authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to understand how the journal operates.

The information should include, as applicable:

The journal's official title, aims, and scope;
Ownership and publishing arrangements;
Names, affiliations, and roles of editorial personnel;
Contact details for the editorial office;
Manuscript submission instructions;
The peer-review model and editorial process;
Publication ethics and research-integrity policies;
Copyright, licensing, and open-access arrangements;
Publication charges and waiver provisions, where applicable;
Publication frequency or schedule;
Archiving and digital preservation arrangements; and
Procedures for complaints, appeals, corrections, and retractions.

Public information shall be kept current and shall not exaggerate the journal's indexing status, affiliations, editorial capacity, publication performance, or relationships with external organisations.

Any material change to the journal's policies or operational arrangements shall be communicated clearly, with appropriate indication of when the change takes effect.

3.15. Marketing, Calls for Papers, and Public Communications

IJASC shall ensure that marketing, recruitment, and public communication activities are accurate, professional, and consistent with the journal's academic mission.

Calls for papers, announcements, invitations to authors or reviewers, and other promotional communications shall not contain misleading claims about acceptance rates, publication timelines, indexing, impact, editorial endorsements, or guaranteed publication.

The journal shall not use deceptive practices to attract submissions, solicit inappropriate payments, or imply that an editorial decision can be secured through a personal or commercial relationship.

Public statements about published research, editorial decisions, or publication ethics cases should be accurate, appropriately authorised, and respectful of confidentiality and applicable legal requirements.

Promotional activity shall remain separate from editorial assessment. The journal's desire to increase submissions, readership, visibility, or citation performance shall not override scholarly standards.

3.16. Complaints, Appeals, and Disagreements Concerning Editorial Independence

IJASC shall provide appropriate procedures for receiving and handling complaints or appeals concerning editorial decisions, editorial conduct, conflicts of interest, and alleged interference in the editorial process.

Complaints shall be assessed fairly, confidentially where appropriate, and by individuals who are sufficiently independent of the matter being considered.

An appeal against an editorial decision shall be handled under the journal's Complaints and Appeals Policy. The existence of an appeal does not guarantee a different outcome, but it shall provide a reasonable opportunity for the concerns to be considered under established criteria.

Where a complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, the journal shall use an alternative process involving an authorised and independent representative of the owner, governing institution, or another suitable independent authority. The person complained against shall not be the sole decision-maker in the handling of the complaint.

Disagreements between editorial leadership and the owner or publisher concerning editorial independence should first be addressed through documented consultation and the journal's established governance procedures. If the disagreement cannot be resolved internally, the matter should be referred to an appropriate independent authority under the applicable institutional or contractual arrangements.

No person shall be penalised for raising a good-faith concern about editorial independence or publication ethics. At the same time, complaints shall be handled responsibly, with appropriate protection for confidential information and the rights of all parties.

3.17. Research Integrity and the Published Scholarly Record

Journal management and editorial independence include a responsibility to protect the reliability and integrity of the scholarly record.

IJASC shall maintain procedures for addressing suspected fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, authorship disputes, undisclosed conflicts of interest, unethical research, inappropriate image manipulation, redundant publication, and other potential breaches of publication ethics.

When concerns arise, the journal shall assess the available evidence, seek relevant clarification, and consult appropriate institutions or experts where necessary. Actions shall be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the concern and consistent with the journal's publication ethics policies.

Where warranted, the journal may publish a correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other notice in accordance with its relevant policy. Such actions shall not be suppressed or delayed solely to protect institutional reputation, commercial interests, or the personal standing of an author or editor.

3.18. Editorial Training and Professional Development

IJASC shall encourage appropriate training and continuing professional development for editors, Editorial Board members, and editorial staff.

Training and guidance may cover:

Publication ethics and research integrity;
Peer-review procedures;
Editorial decision-making and conflicts of interest;
Confidentiality and data protection;
The use of manuscript-management systems;
The handling of complaints, appeals, and misconduct allegations;
Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions; and
Developments in responsible scholarly publishing.

The level and format of training shall be proportionate to the responsibilities of each role and the journal's available resources. Relevant policy updates should be communicated to editorial personnel in a timely manner.

3.19. Policy Review and Revision

This policy shall be reviewed periodically by the journal's editorial leadership in consultation with the owner or publisher, as appropriate.

A review may be initiated when there are significant changes in the journal's governance, editorial structure, financial model, publishing platform, legal obligations, publication ethics standards, or operational practices.

Revisions shall be approved through the journal's authorised governance procedures and published transparently. The journal should maintain consistency between this policy, its author guidelines, editorial procedures, publishing agreements, website statements, and actual practices.

The policy shall not be treated as evidence that a particular practice has already been implemented unless the journal has adopted and operationalised that practice.

4. Technicalities to Achieve and Materialise the Policies

4.1. Formalisation of the Governance Structure

IJASC shall document its governance arrangements in a manner appropriate to the journal's institutional and operational context.

The documentation should identify:

The owner and publisher, where applicable;
The institutional unit responsible for journal administration;
The authority and responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief;
The roles of Associate Editors and other designated editors;
The function and expected contributions of the Editorial Board;
The responsibilities of the editorial office and technical personnel; and
The procedure for resolving governance disputes and editorial-independence concerns.

These arrangements should be approved by the relevant authority and made available to the persons whose responsibilities are affected.

4.2. Publication of Accurate Editorial Information

The journal shall maintain an editorial webpage containing current names, institutional affiliations, and roles of editorial personnel.

The editorial office shall periodically verify that the information is accurate and that individuals listed as editors or Editorial Board members have agreed to serve in those roles.

Changes in editorial appointments, affiliations, or responsibilities shall be reflected on the website within a reasonable period. Former members should not continue to be presented as serving editors after their terms have ended.

4.3. Written Editorial Responsibilities and Appointment Procedures

The journal should maintain written descriptions of editorial roles, including the scope of decision-making authority, confidentiality obligations, conflict-of-interest requirements, and expected professional conduct.

Where appropriate, appointments should be supported by written terms of reference, appointment letters, or equivalent records.

Appointment and succession procedures should help ensure continuity of editorial operations and reduce the risk that changes in institutional leadership or administrative arrangements will disrupt independent manuscript assessment.

4.4. Documented Manuscript-Handling Workflow

IJASC shall establish and maintain a documented workflow covering the principal stages of publication, including:

Receipt and registration of a submission;
Administrative and initial editorial screening;
Assignment to a responsible editor;
Selection and invitation of reviewers;
Monitoring of the peer-review process;
Evaluation of reviewer reports;
Communication of editorial decisions;
Management of revisions and subsequent assessment;
Final acceptance or rejection;
Copyediting, production, and publication; and
Post-publication handling of corrections and other concerns.

The workflow should specify which actions are administrative and which require an authorised editorial decision. It should also identify the records that need to be retained at each stage.

4.5. Documentation of Editorial Decisions

Editorial decisions should be recorded in the manuscript-management system or another appropriate secure record-keeping system.

Records should, as appropriate, include the responsible editor, reviewer reports, relevant editorial correspondence, decision dates, reasons for decisions, and documentation of any conflict-of-interest management or exceptional procedure.

The purpose of record keeping is to support accountability, consistency, and the ability to investigate legitimate concerns. Records shall be accessed only by authorised individuals and handled in accordance with applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

4.6. Implementation of Conflict-of-Interest Safeguards

The editorial office shall implement practical procedures to identify and manage conflicts of interest.

These procedures should include:

Requiring relevant disclosures from editors and other participants;
Providing a means for editors to declare that they cannot handle a manuscript;
Reassigning conflicted submissions to an independent editor;
Restricting access to confidential information where appropriate;
Documenting material recusals and reassignment decisions; and
Providing an alternative handling procedure for submissions involving the Editor-in-Chief.

The procedures should be reviewed periodically to ensure that they remain effective and proportionate to the journal's size and editorial structure.

4.7. Independent Handling of Editorially Affiliated Submissions

When an editor, Editorial Board member, or member of the journal staff submits a manuscript, the editorial office shall identify the affiliation-related conflict and assign the manuscript to an independent editor.

The submitting individual shall not participate in the editorial management of the manuscript beyond their role as an author. Appropriate access restrictions should be applied where the manuscript-management system permits them.

The journal should retain a record of the independent assignment and ensure that peer review and decision-making follow the same standards applied to other submissions.

4.8. Transparent Financial and Publication-Charge Information

The journal shall publish accurate information about any applicable publication charges, waivers, discounts, or other author-facing financial requirements.

The information should specify the circumstances in which charges apply, when payment is requested, and whether any exemptions are available. The journal should avoid language that implies that payment guarantees acceptance or preferential treatment.

Where institutional support or external funding is relevant to the journal's operations, the journal should describe such arrangements accurately to the extent appropriate. Financial and administrative personnel shall not be authorised to alter academic decisions for revenue-generating purposes.

4.9. Technical Access Controls and Confidentiality

The journal shall use reasonable technical and organisational safeguards to protect manuscript records and editorial communications.

These safeguards should include role-appropriate user permissions, secure account management, appropriate handling of confidential files, and timely revision of access rights when personnel leave or change roles.

Editorial and technical personnel shall not disclose unpublished research, reviewer identities where confidential, or editorial deliberations to unauthorised parties. Any suspected breach of confidentiality or unauthorised access shall be assessed and addressed through the journal's applicable procedures.

4.10. Website Maintenance and Policy Consistency

The editorial office shall periodically check the journal website to ensure that its public information is accurate, complete, and consistent with the journal's actual operations.

The review should cover, where applicable:

Ownership and institutional affiliation;
Editorial board composition;
Aims and scope;
Submission and peer-review instructions;
Publication ethics policies;
Open-access, copyright, and licensing statements;
Author fees and waiver information;
Publication schedules;
Archiving and preservation information; and
Contact details and complaint procedures.

Where a policy is revised, related documents and website pages should be updated in a coordinated manner. The journal should avoid publishing contradictory requirements in different locations.

4.11. Handling Alleged Editorial Interference

Where a credible concern arises that an individual or organisation has attempted to influence an editorial decision improperly, the journal shall document and assess the concern through an appropriate procedure.

The process may include:

Recording the allegation and preserving relevant correspondence or records;
Identifying the individuals and decisions involved;
Assessing whether the concern falls within the scope of this policy or another journal policy;
Referring the matter to an impartial person or authority;
Seeking relevant explanations or evidence where appropriate;
Determining any corrective or protective measures; and
Recording the outcome and communicating it to relevant parties where appropriate.

The procedure shall protect confidentiality and avoid prejudging the outcome. Where the complaint involves the Editor-in-Chief or another person who would ordinarily oversee the process, an independent alternative shall be appointed.

4.12. Training and Communication

The journal should provide editorial personnel with access to relevant policies and practical guidance at the beginning of their service and when material policy changes occur.

The editorial office should ensure that editors and staff understand their responsibilities concerning editorial independence, conflicts of interest, peer review, confidentiality, and publication ethics.

Training may be delivered through written guidance, internal briefings, professional development activities, or other appropriate means. The journal should retain records of formal training where practicable.

4.13. Monitoring and Periodic Evaluation

The editorial leadership should periodically evaluate whether journal management practices are operating as intended.

The evaluation may consider:

Compliance with documented editorial workflows;
Accuracy and completeness of public information;
Timeliness of manuscript processing;
Appropriate handling of conflicts of interest;
Consistency of editorial decisions with published policies;
Completeness of editorial records;
The handling of complaints and appeals;
Protection of confidential information; and
Implementation of corrective actions arising from previous reviews.

Indicators should be interpreted in context. For example, publication speed or acceptance rates should not be treated as standalone measures of editorial quality or used to pressure editors into inappropriate decisions.

Where weaknesses are identified, the journal should document practical corrective measures, assign responsibility for implementation, and review progress within a reasonable period.

4.14. Review and Materialisation of the Policy

The Editor-in-Chief, in coordination with the editorial leadership and the relevant owner or publisher, shall oversee the implementation and periodic review of this policy in accordance with the journal's governance arrangements.

Material revisions shall be approved by the appropriate authority, communicated to relevant personnel, and reflected in the journal's public policies and operational procedures.

The journal shall seek to ensure that the principles stated in this document are reflected in actual practice, rather than remaining solely formal declarations. Any significant departure from the established procedures should be justified, documented, and managed through an appropriate and transparent process.

References and Guidance

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Core Practices: Journal Management. Available at: https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
COPE, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.12
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Guidelines for Managing the Relationships Between Society-Owned Journals, Their Society, and Publishers. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2018.1.2
Jurnal Optimasi Sistem Industri (JOSI). Journal Management. https://josi.ft.unand.ac.id/index.php/josi/jm

This policy is intended to establish a transparent and accountable management framework for IJASC while protecting the editorial independence, fairness, and academic integrity of its publishing activities.