The Ethiopian Journal of Business and Social Sciences (EJBSS), hosted by Arba Minch University, serves as a premier biannual, peer-reviewed platform for the dissemination of rigorous scholarly research. The journal is dedicated to advancing knowledge across a diverse array of academic disciplines, fostering an intellectual environment where theory meets practice. By publishing high-quality manuscripts twice a year, EJBSS aims to contribute significantly to the global academic discourse while maintaining a strong focus on the developmental needs and social dynamics of the Ethiopian and broader African context.

The thematic scope of the journal is intentionally broad and multidisciplinary, encompassing the foundational and applied aspects of Business and Economics, including finance, management, and sustainable market practices. It further extends into the Social Sciences and Humanities, exploring sociology, history, and philosophy to better understand human behavior and societal structures. Additionally, the journal highlights the dynamics of cultural communication within social settings, providing insights into how language and heritage shape modern interactions.

Beyond these core areas, EJBSS prioritizes research within the fields of Education and Law, seeking manuscripts that address pedagogical innovation, legal frameworks, and governance. By integrating these various fields, the journal provides a comprehensive exploration of the business and social science landscapes. EJBSS is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, ensuring that every published piece undergoes a thorough peer-review process to offer valuable contributions to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike.

Authorship and Correspondence

To ensure the Ethiopian Journal of Business and Social Sciences (EJBSS) maintains the highest standards of academic integrity, the following guidelines define the protocols for authorship and correspondence. The enumeration of authors’ names in a scholarly article serves as a critical mechanism for acknowledging those who have made significant intellectual contributions to the research. This practice promotes transparency and identifies the individuals responsible for the integrity of the content. By submitting a manuscript to EJBSS, the authors collectively affirm that they have agreed upon the document’s findings and final presentation.

A single individual must be designated as the corresponding author to facilitate all communication with the editorial office throughout the submission, peer review, and publication stages. This individual acts as the primary liaison for all editorial decisions and ensures that the submission complies with journal requirements, including ethical approvals, conflict of interest declarations, and clinical trial registrations where applicable. Furthermore, the corresponding author must remain available following publication to respond to any scholarly inquiries or criticisms directed at the work.

Authorship at EJBSS is reserved for those who meet specific, rigorous criteria. To be included, an individual must have made a substantial contribution to the work—whether through conceptualization, study design, data acquisition, or analysis—and must have been actively involved in drafting or critically revising the manuscript. All authors must provide their consent for submission and concur with every iteration of the article, including the final version accepted for publication. By accepting authorship, individuals agree to be held accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the published work.

Maintaining citation integrity is equally vital to the journal’s mission. Authors of both research and non-research articles, such as reviews or opinions, are mandated to cite pertinent and verified literature to substantiate their claims. EJBSS strictly prohibits citation manipulation, which includes excessive self-citation or collusive agreements among author groups to inappropriately reference one another's work. References must provide a balanced and unbiased overview of the current state of research. Should any ambiguity arise regarding the appropriateness of a source, authors are encouraged to consult the EJBSS editorial office for guidance.

Publication Criteria for EJBSS

Manuscripts submitted to the EJBSS must represent original work that has not been previously published, in whole or in part, and is not currently under consideration by any other journal. Exceptions are made for work appearing in the form of an academic thesis, lecture components, or conference abstracts. While manuscripts previously presented at academic conferences are permissible, they must undergo substantial revision and expansion before submission to EJBSS, and the original conference presentation must be appropriately cited. By proceeding with the submission, authors grant EJBSS the license to publish the work and affirm their status as the primary creators of the content.

The corresponding author carries the professional obligation to ensure that all listed co-authors have formally consented to the publication. EJBSS will not mediate authorship disputes arising after the article has been published. Furthermore, the corresponding author must verify that the research has received all necessary institutional approvals from the affiliated organization or university. All authors, by virtue of submission, grant permission for the publication of their work and commit to refraining from submitting the manuscript elsewhere—in English or any other language—without the express written consent of the copyright holder.

EJBSS may consider manuscripts that are translations of articles originally published in another language; however, this is subject to strict requirements. Authors must obtain formal authorization from the original publisher, and the abstract must explicitly state that the article is a translation of a previously published work. Regarding ownership, copyrights for all articles published in EJBSS remain with the authors, subject to the journal's stipulations. Authors must be the sole creators of the work and possess the full authority to confer publication rights without infringing upon any existing legal or professional commitments, including confidentiality agreements or prior contracts.

In cases where a submitted study replicates or closely resembles existing research, authors are required to provide a robust scientific rationale for the new submission and engage critically with the previous body of literature. EJBSS reserves the right to reject submissions derived from existing research if sufficient justification for the replication is not provided. Furthermore, all research must comply with international and institutional standards governing the ethics of experimentation and research integrity.

The quality of the manuscript must meet high standards of linguistic clarity and technical correctness. EJBSS accepts submissions in either English or Amharic, but the language used must be precise, accurate, and unequivocal. It is the responsibility of the authors to ensure their manuscript reaches this standard; if necessary, authors should engage third-party editing or proofreading services to refine the quality of the language prior to final submission.

The Role of a Journal Editor

The Ethiopian Journal of Business and Social Sciences (EJBSS) serves as a prestigious repository for validated, credible research authored by esteemed scholars from across the globe. The Editor plays a pivotal role in the dissemination of knowledge across the journal’s diverse research domains. This responsibility is fulfilled by maintaining the highest quality of published work, safeguarding the integrity of the peer-review process, and providing consistent support to both authors and reviewers. By collaborating closely with the editorial team, the Editor works to enhance the journal’s international reputation and ensure its continued growth as a leader in business and social science discourse.

The EJBSS Code of Conduct establishes the baseline standards for all editors responsible for content decisions. It is expected that all editors adhere to these principles to ensure the dissemination of reliable, high-quality content. This commitment to excellence is a core component of all editor agreements. Should a current EJBSS Editor have questions regarding these standards or their application, they are encouraged to contact their designated Portfolio Manager for guidance.

Editorial Ethics and Responsibility

EJBSS operates within all relevant legal and ethical frameworks, and the journal holds a shared responsibility with its editors to ensure that every submitted manuscript is processed fairly and transparently. The Editor is tasked with upholding the journal’s respected reputation by ensuring that intellectual property rights are respected and research integrity is never compromised. This includes a rigorous commitment to avoiding bias in the decision-making process and ensuring that all manuscripts adhere to strict ethical principles regarding authorship, originality, and the avoidance of plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification.

To maintain the sanctity of the scholarly record, editors must remain vigilant against citation manipulation. An Editor shall not engage in any behavior that requires authors to cite the Editor’s own work or EJBSS specifically as a condition for acceptance. Furthermore, editors are required to disclose any relevant competing interests annually and ensure that authors transparently declare all funding sources and resources utilized in their research. Maintaining the confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and any parties involved in ethical inquiries is a mandatory requirement of the role.

The Editor is also responsible for the technical and procedural oversight of submissions. This includes utilizing tools such as Turnitin Similarity Check to detect potential plagiarism and collaborating with the Editorial Board to address instances of overlapping or redundant work. All editorial content must remain balanced, fair, and free from defamatory statements. In the event of an appeal, the Editor must follow the established EJBSS appeals process and notify the Portfolio Manager immediately. By acting in good faith and following established copyright regulations, the Editor ensures that EJBSS remains a trusted and ethical platform for global scholarship.

Journal Editorial Management and Peer Review Process

1. The Peer Review Mechanism

The Ethiopian Journal of Business and Social Sciences (EJBSS) employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure an impartial and merit-based evaluation of all scholarly work. Each high-quality manuscript is scrutinized by at least two independent experts: typically one internal reviewer from Arba Minch University and one external reviewer from a different national or international institution. To maintain the sanctity of the "blind" process, authors and reviewers remain anonymous to one another.

Upon submission, the Managing Editor performs an initial desk review to ensure the manuscript aligns with the journal’s scope and author guidelines. Suitable papers are then assigned to a Section Editor, who oversees reviewer selection. The review period generally spans six to ten weeks. While reviewers provide detailed, constructive feedback, the final decision—ranging from Accepted to Decline Submission—rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief.

2. AI Policy and Research Ethics

In accordance with global standards (such as those set by Scopus and the Committee on Publication Ethics - COPE), EJBSS maintains a strict policy regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI tools:

• Authorship & Accountability: AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) cannot be listed as an author or co-author. Authors are legally and ethically responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all content in their manuscript, including any parts generated or assisted by AI.
• Disclosure Requirement: Authors must transparently disclose the use of Generative AI in the "Methods" or “Declarations”, or "Acknowledgments" section. This must include a description of the tool used and the specific extent of its application (e.g., for language polishing or data visualization).
• Editorial/Reviewer Restrictions: To protect confidentiality and intellectual property, editors and reviewers are strictly prohibited from uploading submitted manuscripts into Generative AI tools. AI must not be used to draft peer-review reports or make final editorial decisions, as these processes require human critical thinking and expert judgment.

3. Reviewer Selection and Confidentiality

Reviewers are selected based on their publication record, expertise, and professional reputation. EJBSS does not permit authors to suggest their own reviewers; however, authors may request the exclusion of specific individuals to prevent potential bias. Reviewers must disclose any competing interests before accepting an assignment.

All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. If a reviewer wishes to involve a colleague as a co-reviewer, they must obtain prior approval from the editorial office. Any breach of confidentiality or unauthorized sharing of unpublished data is considered a serious ethical violation.

4. Revision and Production Timeline

EJBSS is committed to the rapid dissemination of scientific findings, aiming for publication within eight weeks of submission for qualifying manuscripts.

• Minor Revisions: Should be resubmitted within 20 days.
• Major Revisions: Must not exceed eight weeks.

Authors must provide a 'Review Comment Form' detailing how each point raised by the reviewers was addressed. Following acceptance, manuscripts undergo English-language copy-editing. Authors are responsible for ensuring their work meets high standards of idiomatic English (Times New Roman style) prior to final production.

5. Competing Interests and Misconduct

A conflict of interest exists when financial, professional, or personal affiliations could be perceived as influencing the research. Failure to disclose these at the time of submission may result in immediate rejection or post-publication retraction.

• EJBSS actively monitors for and penalizes misconduct, including:
• Plagiarism and Text-Recycling: Monitored via Crossref Similarity Check.
• Citation Manipulation: Inappropriate self-citation or "citation rings."
• Data Fabrication/Manipulation: Any alteration of research data or images.

Ethics Dumping: Conducting research in developing regions without adhering to the same ethical standards required in the home institution.

6. Post-Publication: Corrections and Retractions

To protect the scholarly record, the Version of Record may be amended through Correction notices, Expressions of Concern, or Retractions. These are implemented by the Editor-in-Chief after consultation with the Advisory Board and remain permanently linked to the original article.

7. Conduct for Online Communications

Editors and the editorial team are expected to represent Arba Minch University and EJBSS with professionalism on social media (e.g., LinkedIn). Acceptable conduct excludes the sharing of confidential peer-review data, defamatory comments, or content that brings the journal into disrepute. EJBSS reserves the right to remove social media links from its homepage if an editor’s conduct is deemed predatory, harassing, or unprofessional.