REVIEWING PROCESS

Submitted articles undergo a multi-stage evaluation and editing process aimed at selecting, preparing, and publishing the highest quality contributions.

First, the executive editor checks the received contributions using plagiarism detection tools and assesses adherence to the characteristics of a scholarly text. We are using plagiarism detection software to verify the originality of papers submitted to the journal. Sistemantiplagiat software is used to scan papers for instances of plagiarism.

After assessing the plagiarism detection result, the evaluation process of the articles continue with a double blinded review (the author is unaware of the reviewers’ names, and vice versa) which consists of two stages:

First stage: Editorial board members check the articles for compliance with the requirements specified in Guidelines for authors. Articles that do not meet those requirements are returned to authors to be revised.

Second stage: The editorial board forwards the anonymized author contribution to two independent reviewers selected from the existing pool of experts, who assess the scientific value of the paper. Author’s identity remains unknown to the reviewers. The reviewers must complete the following score sheet for each article.

Based on the recommendations made by the scientific reviewers, Editorial board members may take the following decisions:

• the paper will be published as-is;
• the paper will be published after minor revisions;
• the paper will be published after major revisions;
• the paper will not be published.

In every case the author is informed about the outcome. The outcome of the anonymous peer review is mandatory for the author, who must incorporate the reviewers’ comments and recommendations within the timeframe specified by the executive editor. In case of inadequate or delayed revisions of the author’s contribution, the editorial board reserves the right to reject the article’s publication.

EDITORIAL STANDARD

Journal of Defense Resources Management (JoDRM) publishes contributions that correspond to the profile of the journal. The editorial board accepts contributions exclusively in an electronic form, prepared in the MS Word text editor. The editor reserves the authority to make formal, terminological, language, graphic and typographic adaptations in the submitted text.

The journal publishes the author’s papers that pass through the review process.

PUBLICATION ETHICAL STANDARDS AND PUBLICATION MALPRACTICE GUIDE

The purpose of these Ethical Standards is to define the rights and duties of the editorial bodies, authors and reviewers in the process of publishing and set policies for the publishing process to ensure transparency and best quality, objectivity and neutrality of the journal. These Ethical Standards are in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), contained in the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Editors’ responsibilities

• To treat all contributors, reviewers and other colleagues and journal stakeholders impartially, evaluating their activities objectively and fairly, without discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, political views, or ethnic background.
• To ensure that the evaluation and publication of submitted contributions is guided primarily by technical quality and scholarly merit. Commercial considerations, as well as any other forms of undue influence, are not acceptable.
• To implement measures that enable authors and others to report possible breaches of Ethical Standards, and establish procedures designed to prevent such violations. The editorial board commits to investigating all received complaints thoroughly, maintaining written documentation of such investigations, and taking immediate corrective action when violations are confirmed.
• To consistently apply the established Review Process. Publication in the Journal of Defense Resources Management (JoDRM) by members of its editorial bodies is subject to identical rules and criteria as those applied to submissions from other authors. Editorial board members must maintain the anonymity of their authorship. They must recuse themselves from Editorial Board voting during the assessment of their own contributions and leave the meeting during discussion of reviewer nominations for their work.

Authors’ responsibilities

• To familiarize themselves with the Guidelines for Authors and Ethical Standards, maintain full cooperation and communication with the editorial board, and consent to the publication of their contact information (e-mail address) and a brief professional biography.
• To confirm, by submitting their contribution, that an identical or substantially similar work has not been published by the author, nor is it simultaneously offered or accepted for publication elsewhere (whether under a different title or in modified form), and that during the period between submission and final publication decision, the author will not seek to publish it in another periodical or other publicly accessible platform.
• To grant, by submitting their contribution, the editorial board exclusive permission to publish and distribute the contribution in Romania and internationally in all formats. The author must also declare that the submitted work is original and previously unpublished, that they possess full and unrestricted copyright to the work, and that they are authorized to use it. The author bears legal responsibility for the content of the work and for ensuring it does not contain information subject to confidentiality under applicable legislation. Additional matters concerning copyrights, their protection and enforcement shall be governed by current copyright legislation.
• If the contribution was prepared with financial or other support from another individual or institution, to explicitly acknowledge this, including identification of the grant, project sponsor, etc. (this information will be temporarily removed by the Executive Editor before the review process begins to preserve anonymity).
• To appropriately cite all sources and literature used. Minimize the number of self-citations to the greatest extent possible. To obtain permission for publishing information or borrowed passages that require such authorization from their original author. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
• To accept editorial revisions to their contribution resulting from the peer-review process, copyediting, and other activities associated with publication of the work.
• To retain and preserve records and materials related to the creation and editing of the contribution. Based on these and upon editorial board request, to provide evidence of authorship or primary responsibility in cases of uncertainty or investigation of complaints regarding violations of Ethical Standards.
• To refrain from attempting to identify reviewers and to notify the editorial board of any circumstances that could compromise the anonymity and objectivity of the peer-review process.
• To avoid unfounded evaluative statements in their paper that could be defamatory or offensive in nature or are likely to harm others and the reputation of the journal.
• To acknowledge that contributions published in the Journal of Defense Resources Management (JoDRM) cannot be republished in another journal or publicly available information source without approval from the Chairman of the Editorial Board and without appropriate citation to this journal.
• To inform the editorial board of any potential conflict of interest or circumstances that could negatively affect any stage of the publication process and the credibility of the journal.
• To notify the editorial board immediately if the published paper contains a significant error. The author is obligated to provide necessary assistance to correct the error, publish a correction or clarifying statement, etc. at the editorial board’s request.

Reviewers’ responsibilities

• To familiarize themselves with the Ethical Standards and approved peer-review methodology, and to maintain full cooperation and communication with the editorial board throughout the preparation of the review assessment.
• To recuse themselves from the review process and inform the Editorial Board in a timely manner if, after examining the submitted text, the reviewer determines they cannot provide an adequate professional evaluation due to differences in their professional focus, expertise, or specialization.
• To contribute to enhancing the quality of the reviewed contribution by evaluating it objectively and impartially, and providing the assessment in a timely manner, with required depth and quality in accordance with the prescribed format of the review report.
• To maintain strict confidentiality of information provided by the author or editorial board in connection with the review assessment. Further use or dissemination of the reviewed contribution during or after the review process by the reviewer is prohibited.
• To notify the editorial board of any previously published or submitted text that demonstrates substantial similarity to the reviewed contribution.
• To refrain from attempting to identify the author and to notify the editorial board of any circumstances that could compromise the anonymity and objectivity of the peer-review process.
• To inform the editorial board promptly about any potential conflict of interest that may arise in connection with the peer-review process or any other circumstances that might affect its objectivity.

Editorial board upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against any publication malpractice. Anyone can notify the editorial board of the violations of the above Ethical Standards. The provider of such information should provide sufficient information and evidence for investigation to the editors.

JoDRM is committed to objective and fair double-blind peer-review of submissions, and to addressing conflict of interests between editors and reviewers. Problems are addressed by the editorial board who is committed to providing swift resolutions to disputes.