Policies

1. Open Access Policy:

The Journal of Computers, Mechanical and Management (JCMM) follows a fully open-access model, meaning all published articles are freely available without any subscription or access fees. This allows researchers and the public to read, download, share, and cite research without restrictions. JCMM currently does not charge any Article Processing Charges (APC) until December 2025. From January 2026 onwards, an APC of USD 250 per article will apply.

2. Peer-review and Proofing Policy:

JCMM follows a rigorous single-blind peer-review process where at least two independent experts evaluate submissions to ensure originality, technical quality, and contribution to the field. The review process typically takes 1–2 months, and authors receive detailed feedback to improve their manuscripts before acceptance. Accepted manuscripts undergo careful proofreading to maintain the highest publication standards.

3. Copyright & Licensing Policy:

All articles published in JCMM are copyrighted by the journal and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. This allows articles to be shared, downloaded, and reused for academic and research purposes with proper credit to JCMM, but they cannot be used for commercial purposes without prior permission from the journal.

4. Ethical Principles and AI Usage Policy:

JCMM upholds strict ethical standards and expects authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to guidelines that prevent data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and unethical research practices. Authors may use AI tools for writing assistance and analysis, but AI-generated content must be clearly disclosed, and AI tools cannot be listed as co-authors.

5. Plagiarism Policy:

JCMM uses PlagiarismX for plagiarism detection and also accepts similarity reports from Turnitin and iThenticate. A similarity index of up to 15% is allowed for original research articles and 20% for review articles. Any detected plagiarism may result in rejection or retraction. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all content is original and properly cited.

6. AI Usage Policy:

Authors are permitted to use AI tools for research assistance, data analysis, and language enhancement. However, all AI-generated content must be transparently disclosed in the manuscript, including the nature and extent of the AI's involvement. Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work. AI tools should not be listed as co-authors. Journals reserve the right to reject submissions where undisclosed or inappropriate AI usage is detected, to ensure compliance with ethical standards.

5. Editorial Policies:

We adhere to the following editorial policies:

• Article Retractions: JCMM will retract articles in cases of proven scientific misconduct, significant errors that invalidate the work's conclusions, or ethical breaches. Retractions are clearly stated, explaining the reason for retraction to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.
• Corrections and Errata:  Authors may request corrections or submit errata for minor errors. The journal will review these submissions and publish corrections as necessary, ensuring the accuracy of the published record.
• Expressions of Concern: Should there be significant concerns regarding the integrity or validity of published work, JCMM will investigate and, if necessary, publish an expression of concern, followed by a detailed explanation upon the conclusion of the investigation.
• Diversity and Inclusion: JCMM is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in its editorial practices, peer review, and authorship. We strive to ensure a broad representation of voices from different geographical regions, cultures, and academic traditions.
• Data Sharing and Transparency: To foster scientific transparency and reproducibility, JCMM encourages authors to share their research data, methods, and code in publicly accessible repositories or as supplementary material in the publication, where applicable and ethically permissible.
• Conflict of Interest Policy: Explicitly state how the journal handles potential conflicts of interest of authors, reviewers, and editors to ensure transparency and fairness in the publication process.
• Appeals and Complaints Procedure: Outline the process for authors to appeal editorial decisions or file complaints regarding the peer-review process or other concerns, providing a clear avenue for resolution.
• Authorship Criteria and Changes: Define the criteria for authorship clearly, including contributions that qualify for authorship and the process for adding or removing authors before publication.
• Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections: Encourage post-publication commentary and critique by the scholarly community, detailing how the journal handles comments on published work and the process for publishing corrections, clarifications, or retractions.
• Research Ethics and Consent: For journals publishing research involving humans, animals, or sensitive data, include policies on ethical research practices, including the requirement for ethics committee approval and informed consent
• Patient Privacy and Confidentiality: If applicable, outline how the journal protects the privacy and confidentiality of research subjects, particularly in medical or psychological research.

6. Adherence to COPE Guidelines

The journal follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for handling ethical concerns and ensuring fair and unbiased editorial practices. Any allegations of misconduct are promptly investigated and addressed following COPE flowcharts.