Plagiarism Policy

The Singaporean Journal of Business Economics and Management (SJBEM) maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and all forms of unethical academic conduct. Manuscripts submitted to the journal must represent original work that has not been published elsewhere or is under review with another publication.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Reproducing another author’s words, ideas, or data without proper acknowledgement or permission.
  • Copying text, figures, tables, or images verbatim or with minimal changes from published or unpublished sources.
  • Paraphrasing someone else’s concepts or findings without citation.
  • Reusing significant portions of one’s own previously published work without disclosure (self-plagiarism).

Even if the source is cited, verbatim or close copying without quotation or acknowledgement constitutes plagiarism.

To promote ethical writing, authors are encouraged to review the ORI Guide: “Avoiding Plagiarism, Self-Plagiarism, and Other Questionable Writing Practices” by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity:
https://ori.hhs.gov/avoiding-plagiarism-self-plagiarism-and-other-questionable-writing-practices

Plagiarism Detection

All submissions to SJBEM undergo plagiarism screening using Turnitin or iThenticate, both of which compare manuscripts against a vast database of published research and web content.

  • Similarity Threshold:
    • Total similarity index should not exceed 10%, and
    • Similarity from a single source should not exceed 5%.

Manuscripts exceeding these limits will be returned to the author(s) for revision before further review.

The editorial team follows COPE guidelines in evaluating whether overlap constitutes plagiarism, taking context and intention into account.

If plagiarism or unethical conduct is identified after publication, the journal reserves the right to issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction following COPE’s recommended procedures. All authors are collectively and individually responsible for the integrity of their work.

Self-Plagiarism

SJBEM does not accept manuscripts that include verbatim or substantial overlap with an author’s previously published work or a manuscript under consideration elsewhere. Authors must:

  • Clearly identify reused material,
  • Cite their previous publication, and
  • Explain how the new submission provides novel insights or contributions.

Failure to disclose or properly attribute previous work will be treated as a form of plagiarism.

Procedure for Handling Suspected Plagiarism

In cases where plagiarism is suspected — either in a submitted or published manuscript — SJBEM follows the COPE flowcharts and ICMJE recommendations to ensure fairness and due process.

When plagiarism is suspected in a submitted manuscript:

  1. The editorial board reviews the evidence using plagiarism detection reports.
  2. The corresponding author is contacted and asked to respond to the allegation within a specified time frame.
  3. If the explanation is unsatisfactory, the manuscript will be rejected and the authors may be blacklisted from future submissions.
  4. The authors’ affiliated institution(s) may be notified, depending on the severity of the case.

When plagiarism is detected in a published article:

  1. The evidence is verified by the editorial board.
  2. The corresponding author is contacted and given an opportunity to respond.
  3. If plagiarism is confirmed:
    • The original source’s editor and authors will be informed.
    • The journal will publish an official retraction notice.
    • The online version of the article will be removed or marked “Retracted.”
    • The authors involved will be banned from publishing with SJBEM for five (5) years.

All actions are taken in accordance with COPE’s publication ethics framework: https://publicationethics.org/resources/flowcharts

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

SJBEM is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to the principles outlined by:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
  • Singapore Statement on Research Integrity

By submitting to SJBEM, authors acknowledge that they understand and agree to the journal’s plagiarism policy.

Crossref Similarity Check:
SJBEM is in the process of joining Crossref Similarity Check (powered by iThenticate) to strengthen plagiarism screening and maintain the integrity of its publication process.