Beyond the Project Horizon: Journal of the Center for Project Management Innovation
Publication Ethics Statement
Publication Ethics StatementBeyond the Project Horizon: Journal of the Center for Project Management Innovation
Editorial Commitment
Beyond the Project Horizon is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and adheres to the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We are dedicated to ensuring the integrity, transparency, and quality of all published research while fostering ethical scholarly communication in project management innovation.
Author Responsibilities
Research Integrity
- Authors must ensure that submitted work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under consideration by another publication
- All research must be conducted ethically and in accordance with relevant institutional and national guidelines
- Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all data, citations, and statements presented in their work
Authorship
- All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the research and manuscript preparation
- Authorship should be limited to those who have significantly contributed to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research
- Changes to authorship must be agreed upon by all authors and communicated to the editorial team
Conflicts of Interest
- Authors must disclose all financial, personal, or professional relationships that could potentially influence their research or its interpretation
- Funding sources and institutional affiliations must be clearly stated
- Any potential conflicts of interest must be declared at the time of submission
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure
Effective immediately, all submissions must include transparent disclosure of AI tool usage:
- Prohibited Uses: AI cannot be listed as an author or co-author. AI tools may not be used to generate fraudulent data, fabricate citations, or create deceptive content
- Permitted Uses: AI may be used for language editing, formatting, literature searching, preliminary analysis, or other supportive tasks that do not involve original thinking or data interpretation
- Required Disclosure: Authors must declare any AI tool usage in their submission, specifying:
- Which AI tools were used (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, Claude)
- Specific tasks for which AI was employed
- How AI outputs were verified and validated by human authors
- Responsibility: Authors remain fully responsible for all content, including any AI-assisted portions, and must verify the accuracy of all AI-generated text, citations, and analysis
Editorial Responsibilities
Peer Review Process
- All manuscripts undergo rigorous double-blind peer review by qualified experts in relevant fields
- Editors ensure fair, timely, and constructive review processes
- Editorial decisions are based solely on manuscript quality, relevance, and contribution to the field
- Editors maintain confidentiality throughout the review process
Conflicts of Interest
- Editors will recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist
- Editorial decisions are made independently of commercial or personal considerations
- Guest editors must declare any potential conflicts when handling special issues
Publication Decisions
- Editorial decisions are based on manuscript quality, methodological rigor, significance of findings, and alignment with journal scope
- Authors receive clear, constructive feedback regardless of publication decision
- Appeals processes are available for authors who believe their work was unfairly evaluated
Reviewer Responsibilities
Review Standards
- Reviewers must provide honest, constructive, and timely evaluations of manuscripts
- Reviews should focus on scientific merit, methodological soundness, and contribution to knowledge
- Personal attacks or unconstructive criticism are not acceptable
Confidentiality
- Reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscript content and the review process
- Manuscripts should not be shared with others without explicit editorial permission
- Reviewers should not use unpublished information for personal research advantage
Conflicts of Interest
- Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist
- Any potential biases or relationships with authors should be disclosed to editors
Research Ethics and Misconduct
Prohibited Practices
- Plagiarism: Unauthorized use of others' work, ideas, or words without proper attribution
- Data Fabrication: Creating false or non-existent data or results
- Data Falsification: Manipulating research data, images, or findings
- Duplicate Publication: Submitting the same work to multiple journals simultaneously
- Salami Slicing: Inappropriately dividing research into multiple publications
Investigation Procedures
- Allegations of misconduct are investigated promptly and confidentially
- Authors are given opportunity to respond to allegations
- Institutional review boards and relevant authorities are consulted when appropriate
- Sanctions may include manuscript rejection, publication bans, or institutional notification
Post-Publication Responsibilities
Corrections and Errata
- Errors discovered after publication are addressed through formal correction notices (errata)
- Authors and readers are encouraged to report post-publication concerns
- Corrections are published with clear identification of changes made
Retractions
- Articles may be retracted for serious ethical violations, major errors, or research misconduct
- Retraction notices clearly explain reasons for withdrawal
- Retracted articles remain accessible with clear retraction warnings
Expressions of Concern
- Formal expressions of concern may be issued when serious questions arise about research integrity
- These notices alert readers to potential issues while investigations are ongoing
Open Access and Copyright
Publication Model
- Beyond the Project Horizon operates as a diamond open access journal with no author publication charges
- All published content is immediately and permanently accessible without subscription barriers
- Authors retain copyright while granting the journal non-exclusive publication rights
Licensing
- Articles are published under Creative Commons licensing to facilitate broad dissemination
- Specific licensing terms are clearly indicated on published articles
- Institutional and funder mandates for open access are supported
Editorial Independence
The journal maintains complete editorial independence from its publisher, funding sources, and institutional affiliations. Editorial decisions are made solely by the editorial team based on scientific merit and journal standards.
Complaints and Appeals
Process
- Complaints about editorial processes, peer review, or publication decisions should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief
- Appeals are reviewed by independent editorial board members
- External mediation through COPE guidelines may be sought for complex cases
Contact Information
- Editorial inquiries: [Editor contact information]
- Ethics concerns: [Ethics contact information]
- Technical issues: [Technical support contact]
Continuous Improvement
This Publication Ethics Statement is reviewed annually and updated to reflect evolving best practices in scholarly publishing. We welcome feedback from the research community to strengthen our ethical standards and improve our publication processes.