Roles and Responsibilities

Overview

Scientific Innovation Research Group (SIRG) is committed to maintaining a transparent, professional, and academically responsible publishing process. Successful publication depends on clear communication and appropriate responsibilities among authors, editors, reviewers, editorial and production teams, and the publisher.

This page describes the principal roles and responsibilities involved in the development, evaluation, production, and publication of scholarly books and related academic works published by SIRG.

1. Authors and Book Editors

Authors and editors of books are responsible for the scholarly content and integrity of their work.

Their responsibilities include:

  • Developing original and academically valuable content.

  • Ensuring that all submitted material is accurate, appropriately referenced, and presented according to accepted scholarly standards.

  • Providing complete and accurate information about authors, co-authors, contributors, and editors.

  • Ensuring that all listed authors and contributors meet appropriate authorship or contribution criteria.

  • Obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material where required.

  • Declaring relevant conflicts of interest.

  • Disclosing the use of generative artificial intelligence or other AI-assisted tools when required by SIRG policy.

  • Responding to editorial and academic feedback in a timely and professional manner.

  • Reviewing proofs carefully before publication.

  • Cooperating with SIRG in addressing post-publication corrections or concerns when necessary.

  • Ensuring that the submitted work is not simultaneously under consideration by another publisher where such simultaneous submission would create an ethical or contractual conflict.

Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the content they submit.

2. Editors and Book Editors

Book editors and commissioning editors contribute to the academic and editorial development of a publication.

Their responsibilities may include:

  • Assessing the academic relevance and potential contribution of proposed books.

  • Advising authors on the positioning, structure, scope, and intended readership of a work.

  • Evaluating proposals against the relevant subject area and publishing program.

  • Coordinating appropriate academic or expert evaluation where required.

  • Providing constructive editorial feedback.

  • Supporting authors throughout the development of the manuscript.

  • Maintaining appropriate confidentiality during the evaluation and publication process.

  • Identifying potential conflicts of interest and taking appropriate steps to manage them.

  • Supporting research integrity and publication ethics.

  • Ensuring that editorial recommendations are based on scholarly quality, relevance, originality, and integrity.

Editors should not make decisions based on personal, institutional, commercial, or financial interests.

3. Academic and External Reviewers

Where academic or expert review is undertaken, reviewers contribute independent scholarly assessment of the proposed work or manuscript.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Evaluate the work objectively and professionally.

  • Assess scholarly quality, originality, relevance, methodology, accuracy, and contribution as appropriate to the type of publication.

  • Provide constructive comments that can help improve the manuscript.

  • Maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscript and the review process.

  • Declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest.

  • Decline a review assignment when they lack the appropriate expertise or cannot provide an impartial assessment.

  • Avoid using unpublished information obtained through the review process for personal or professional advantage.

  • Identify significant ethical, methodological, or integrity concerns when appropriate.

Reviewer recommendations are advisory. Final publishing decisions remain the responsibility of the appropriate editorial authority.

4. Editorial and Project Management Team

The SIRG editorial and project management team supports authors and editors throughout the publishing process.

Responsibilities may include:

  • Coordinating communication between authors, editors, reviewers, and production staff.

  • Managing proposal and manuscript workflows.

  • Tracking submissions and editorial milestones.

  • Ensuring that required documentation is received and maintained.

  • Communicating editorial decisions and requests for revisions.

  • Supporting authors in meeting submission and production requirements.

  • Coordinating the transition from editorial evaluation to production.

  • Maintaining appropriate records of the publishing process.

The project management team does not replace academic or editorial decision-makers.

5. Production and Publishing Services Team

The production team is responsible for transforming an accepted manuscript into its final published format.

Responsibilities may include:

  • Copyediting and language or formatting checks, where applicable.

  • Typesetting and formatting.

  • Preparation of electronic and print-ready files where applicable.

  • Coordination of cover and publication metadata.

  • Proof preparation and author proof review.

  • Quality control before publication.

  • Publication of the final version.

  • Supporting the correction of production-related errors identified after publication.

Production decisions should preserve the scholarly meaning and integrity of the author's work.

6. Scientific Innovation Research Group (SIRG) as Publisher

SIRG provides the publishing infrastructure and organizational framework necessary to support scholarly communication.

The publisher's responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining appropriate publishing policies and procedures.

  • Providing publishing platforms and services.

  • Supporting transparent editorial and peer-review processes.

  • Maintaining publication records and metadata.

  • Supporting long-term access and preservation arrangements where applicable.

  • Providing mechanisms for handling corrections, complaints, appeals, and publication ethics concerns.

  • Supporting compliance with recognized standards of scholarly publishing ethics.

  • Communicating publishing terms clearly to authors and editors.

  • Protecting the integrity and independence of the editorial process.

SIRG may provide administrative, technical, production, and publishing support, but such support must not improperly influence academic or editorial decisions.

7. Editorial Independence

Editorial independence is a fundamental principle of SIRG's publishing activities.

Editorial decisions should be based on appropriate academic and publishing criteria, including:

  • Scholarly quality;

  • Originality and contribution;

  • Relevance to the subject area;

  • Academic integrity;

  • Ethical compliance;

  • Suitability for the intended readership; and

  • The overall quality of the proposed publication.

Editorial decisions must not be improperly influenced by:

  • SIRG membership;

  • Institutional affiliation;

  • Personal relationships;

  • Commercial interests;

  • Financial considerations;

  • Marketing considerations;

  • Political considerations; or

  • The status or reputation of an author, editor, reviewer, or institution.

The publisher may establish general publishing policies and quality standards, but academic content decisions should remain with the appropriate editorial authorities.

8. Conflicts of Interest

All individuals involved in the publishing process should disclose relevant conflicts of interest.

A conflict may arise from, among other things:

  • Personal relationships;

  • Professional relationships;

  • Institutional affiliations;

  • Financial interests;

  • Competitive interests;

  • Collaborative relationships; or

  • Other circumstances that could reasonably affect impartial judgment.

When a significant conflict exists, SIRG may assign another qualified individual to manage the relevant stage of the publishing process.

9. Confidentiality

Information obtained during proposal evaluation, manuscript assessment, peer review, editorial consideration, or production should be treated appropriately and confidentially.

Individuals involved in the publishing process should not disclose confidential manuscript or proposal information to unauthorized persons or use unpublished material for personal or professional advantage.

10. Research Integrity and Publication Ethics

All participants in the SIRG publishing process are expected to comply with applicable principles of research integrity and publication ethics.

Concerns may include, but are not limited to:

  • Plagiarism;

  • Fabrication or falsification;

  • Duplicate or redundant publication;

  • Inappropriate authorship;

  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest;

  • Copyright infringement;

  • Manipulation of the scholarly record;

  • Misuse of peer review; and

  • Other forms of research or publication misconduct.

SIRG may investigate concerns and take appropriate action in accordance with its publishing ethics policies and applicable scholarly standards.

11. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors, editors, reviewers, and other contributors should use artificial intelligence responsibly and transparently.

AI tools should not be used in ways that compromise:

  • Research integrity;

  • Authorship transparency;

  • Confidentiality;

  • Copyright;

  • Data protection;

  • Accuracy; or

  • The reliability of the scholarly record.

Where disclosure is required, the use of AI-assisted tools should be reported in accordance with the applicable SIRG policy.

AI tools should not be listed as authors or editors because they cannot assume responsibility for the scholarly work.

12. Corrections and Post-Publication Issues

SIRG is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the published record.

If a significant error is identified after publication, SIRG may consider appropriate corrective action, which may include:

  • Correction;

  • Erratum or corrigendum;

  • Expression of concern; or

  • Retraction,

depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

Authors, editors, reviewers, and readers are encouraged to report significant concerns relating to published works through the appropriate SIRG channels.

13. Communication and Professional Conduct

All participants in the publishing process should communicate professionally and respectfully.

SIRG expects authors, editors, reviewers, and staff to:

  • Communicate clearly and honestly;

  • Respond within reasonable timeframes;

  • Provide accurate information;

  • Respect confidentiality;

  • Avoid harassment or inappropriate conduct; and

  • Cooperate constructively in resolving publishing issues.

SIRG does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or abusive conduct within the publishing process.

14. Relationship Between Editorial and Publishing Functions

SIRG recognizes that academic editorial functions and publishing operations serve different purposes.

Editors and reviewers are primarily responsible for academic evaluation and editorial judgment.

The publisher and publishing teams are primarily responsible for:

  • Publishing infrastructure;

  • Administrative coordination;

  • Production;

  • Metadata;

  • Distribution;

  • Preservation;

  • Technical services; and

  • Implementation of publisher-level policies.

This separation supports transparency, accountability, and editorial independence.

15. Responsibilities for Publishing Agreements

Before publication, authors or editors should receive clear information regarding applicable publishing terms and agreements.

Where a publishing agreement is required, it should clearly address relevant matters such as:

  • Rights and permissions;

  • Copyright;

  • Licensing;

  • Publication formats;

  • Author or editor responsibilities;

  • Third-party content;

  • Distribution;

  • Open-access arrangements, where applicable; and

  • Other relevant contractual conditions.

Authors and editors should review the applicable agreement carefully before signing.

16. SIRG Journal Publishing and No-APC Policy

SIRG journals operate under a No Article Processing Charge (No APC) publishing model.

For SIRG journals:

  • No submission fee is charged.

  • No article processing charge is charged.

  • No peer-review fee is charged.

  • No publication fee is charged.

  • Editorial decisions are not influenced by an author's ability or willingness to pay.

This journal policy applies specifically to SIRG's journal publishing program. Book publishing arrangements may operate under separate publishing agreements and terms, which should be communicated transparently before an agreement is concluded.

Payment, where applicable to a separate publishing service or contractual arrangement, must never guarantee academic acceptance or publication.

17. Accountability

Every participant in the publishing process has a role in maintaining the quality and integrity of SIRG publications.

SIRG may review procedures periodically to improve:

  • Transparency;

  • Editorial quality;

  • Research integrity;

  • Author and reviewer experience;

  • Publishing efficiency; and

  • Compliance with recognized scholarly publishing standards.

18. Related SIRG Policies

This page should be read together with the relevant SIRG policies, including:

  • Publishing Ethics and Malpractice Statement;

  • Editors and Guest Editors Guide;

  • Appeals and Complaints Policy;

  • Internal Manuscript Transfer Policy;

  • Research Integrity and Publication Ethics policies;

  • Copyright and Licensing policies; and

  • Applicable author and reviewer guidelines.

Final Principle

SIRG is committed to a publishing environment in which academic quality, research integrity, transparency, fairness, and editorial independence guide the publication process.

The responsibilities described on this page are intended to ensure that authors, editors, reviewers, publishing staff, and the publisher work together to maintain a trustworthy and professionally managed scholarly publishing record.

SIRG Team