Conflict of Interest Policy

All authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the publication process are expected to identify, disclose, and appropriately manage actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Transparent disclosure enables the journal to protect the fairness of editorial decisions and maintain readers' confidence in published research.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when personal relationships, financial interests, professional commitments, institutional affiliations, or other competing interests could reasonably be perceived as influencing an individual's judgment in the preparation, review, editing, or publication of a manuscript.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Mandatory Disclosure

Authors must disclose all actual or potential conflicts of interest relevant to their manuscript at the time of submission. Disclosures should be sufficiently clear and complete to enable editors and readers to assess whether the interests could have influenced the research, its interpretation, or its reporting.

Types of Interests to Be Disclosed

Declaration When No Conflict Exists

If no relevant conflict of interest exists, authors must include the following statement in their manuscript:

When a conflict exists, authors must provide a clear statement describing the relevant interest and, where appropriate, the measures taken to manage it. All co-authors are responsible for ensuring that disclosures are accurate and complete.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the objectivity and credibility of the peer-review process. They must identify and disclose any interest that could reasonably compromise, or appear to compromise, their impartiality.

• Decline a review invitation or promptly inform the editor if an actual or potential conflict of interest exists.
• Disclose relevant financial, professional, personal, or ideological interests associated with the manuscript or its subject matter.
• Avoid reviewing manuscripts involving close personal or family relationships, current supervisory relationships, direct institutional or departmental connections, or active research collaborations with an author where these circumstances could compromise impartiality.
• Evaluate manuscripts objectively and maintain the confidentiality of all materials received during peer review.
• Never use unpublished information, ideas, data, or findings obtained through peer review for personal or professional advantage without appropriate authorization.

4. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must ensure that editorial assessment and publication decisions remain independent, impartial, and based on the scholarly merits of each submission.

• Disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest and recuse themselves from handling a manuscript when their impartiality could reasonably be questioned.
• Arrange for the manuscript to be reassigned to an appropriate independent editor when necessary.
• Base editorial decisions on scholarly quality, relevance to the journal's focus and scope, methodological rigor, contribution to knowledge or community service where applicable, and compliance with publication ethics.
• Prevent personal relationships, institutional affiliations, financial considerations, or other competing interests from improperly influencing editorial decisions.
• Protect confidential manuscript information and manage disclosed conflicts fairly and consistently.

5. Handling Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified before or after publication, the editorial team will assess the circumstances, examine relevant evidence, and, where appropriate, request an explanation from the parties concerned. The matter will be handled fairly and confidentially where appropriate, in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Any action will be proportionate to the circumstances and intended to preserve the accuracy, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. Retraction is not automatic merely because a conflict of interest exists. The journal will consider whether the conflict affected the integrity, interpretation, or reliability of the published work.

6. Commitment to Transparency and Research Integrity

PROCURATIO: Jurnal Manajemen dan Bisnis expects authors, reviewers, and editors to cooperate in identifying, disclosing, and appropriately managing competing interests. Transparent disclosure enables readers to evaluate the context in which research was conducted and reported, strengthens trust in editorial decisions, and supports responsible scholarly communication.