Publication Ethics

Digital Systems and Innovation Journal (DESI)

Digital Systems and Innovation Journal (DESI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement is based on the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing, and is aligned with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

All parties involved in the publication process—including editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to these ethical standards.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

The Editors of DESI are responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of the journal's publication process.

Editors shall:

Evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, originality, significance, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
Maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts.
Ensure a fair, objective, and unbiased review process.
Avoid conflicts of interest in editorial decisions.
Take appropriate action when ethical concerns or misconduct allegations arise.
Make publication decisions based on reviewers’ recommendations and editorial judgment.

Editors shall not discriminate against authors based on race, gender, nationality, religious belief, political affiliation, institutional affiliation, or personal characteristics.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers contribute to editorial decisions and help improve manuscript quality.

Reviewers shall:

Conduct reviews objectively, fairly, and constructively.
Maintain confidentiality of all manuscript information.
Identify relevant published work not cited by authors.
Report any suspected plagiarism, duplication, or ethical concerns.
Decline review assignments when conflicts of interest exist.
Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal research or advantage.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to DESI must ensure that their work meets ethical and academic standards.

Authors shall:

Submit original and unpublished work.
Ensure the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
Properly acknowledge the work of others through accurate citations.
Present research findings honestly without fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data.
Disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence the research.
Cooperate with editors during the review and publication process.
Notify the editor promptly if significant errors are discovered after submission or publication.

Authors are responsible for obtaining ethical approval when research involves human participants, personal data, surveys, interviews, or other activities requiring ethical clearance.

Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to:

Research conception or design;
Data collection, analysis, or interpretation;
Manuscript drafting or critical revision; and
Approval of the final version.

All authors must approve the submitted manuscript.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

Guest authorship, honorary authorship, and ghost authorship are considered unethical practices.

Plagiarism Policy

DESI has zero tolerance for plagiarism.

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software before entering the review process.

The journal considers the following forms of misconduct unacceptable:

Direct plagiarism
Self-plagiarism
Mosaic plagiarism
Data plagiarism
Improper citation practices

Manuscripts found to contain substantial plagiarism will be rejected immediately.

Duplicate Submission and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.

DESI does not accept manuscripts that have been previously published or are under review elsewhere.

Redundant publication, duplicate publication, and salami publication are considered unethical and may result in rejection or retraction.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence their decisions or interpretations.

Potential conflicts of interest should be declared at the time of submission or review.

Data Integrity and Research Misconduct

Research data must be collected, analyzed, and reported accurately.

The journal does not tolerate:

Data fabrication
Data falsification
Image manipulation
Misrepresentation of research results

Editors may request supporting data during the review process when necessary.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Artificial Intelligence tools may be used only to support language editing, grammar improvement, or technical assistance.

Authors remain fully responsible for:

The accuracy of all content;
The originality of the manuscript;
Proper citation of sources; and
Compliance with ethical standards.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Authors should disclose the use of AI tools when they have substantially assisted manuscript preparation.

Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy

DESI may issue:

Correction

For minor errors that do not affect the validity of the research.

Retraction

For serious ethical violations, including:

Plagiarism
Data fabrication
Duplicate publication
Unethical research conduct

Withdrawal

For manuscripts withdrawn before publication due to valid reasons approved by the editorial office.

Retraction notices will remain permanently available to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers must not disclose any information regarding submitted manuscripts except to individuals directly involved in the editorial process.

All unpublished materials obtained through manuscript handling must be treated as confidential.

Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants must comply with relevant ethical standards and institutional regulations.

When applicable, authors must provide:

Ethical approval information;
Informed consent statements; and
Permission for the use of sensitive data.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit complaints or appeals regarding editorial decisions by contacting the editorial office.

The journal will investigate all complaints fairly, transparently, and confidentially following established ethical procedures.

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher of DESI is committed to supporting editorial independence and ensuring that commercial interests do not influence editorial decisions.

The publisher works together with editors to maintain the integrity, transparency, and quality of the scholarly publication process.