Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Journal (BIEJ) is committed to preserving the accuracy, reliability, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly literature it publishes.

BIEJ recognizes that errors or concerns may be identified after publication, including those arising from honest mistakes, methodological problems, inaccurate reporting, or research and publication misconduct.

To maintain the credibility of the scholarly record, BIEJ establishes procedures for issuing corrections, Expressions of Concern, retractions, and other appropriate post-publication notices.

These procedures are informed by the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including its Retraction Guidelines, and internationally recognized principles of responsible scholarly publishing.

1. Correction of Published Articles

A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article but the overall validity, reliability, and principal conclusions of the research remain substantially unaffected.

Corrections may be considered for:

• Errors in numerical data, tables, figures, or statistical reporting that do not invalidate the main findings.
• Inaccuracies in author information, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding declarations, or other bibliographic details.
• Mistakes in descriptions of research procedures, methods, or supporting information that require clarification.
• Missing or inaccurate references, disclosures, or other information relevant to the interpretation of the work.
• Other substantive errors that can be corrected without undermining the reliability of the article as a whole.

Depending on the nature of the error, the journal may identify the correction as an Erratum, Corrigendum, or Correction Notice.

A correction notice will clearly identify the original article, describe the changes, and explain their significance where appropriate.

Corrections will be published as soon as reasonably possible after the need for correction has been established.

2. Retraction of Published Articles

Retraction is a formal mechanism used to inform readers that a published article contains fundamental problems that seriously undermine its reliability, validity, or ethical acceptability.

BIEJ may consider retracting an article when there is sufficient evidence of:

• Fabricated, falsified, or seriously unreliable research data or findings.
• Major methodological, analytical, or reporting errors that invalidate the principal results or conclusions.
• Substantial plagiarism or unauthorized use of intellectual work.
• Duplicate or redundant publication without appropriate justification, acknowledgment, or permission.
• Serious violations of research ethics or participant protection.
• Manipulation of authorship, peer review, or other essential elements of the publication process.
• Undisclosed material conflicts of interest that seriously compromise the integrity or interpretation of the research.
• Other fundamental problems that make the published article unreliable or seriously misleading.

Retraction may be necessary whether the underlying problem results from deliberate misconduct or an honest error.

3. Retraction Procedure

When a potential reason for retraction is identified, BIEJ will conduct a fair and evidence-based editorial assessment.

The procedure may include:

1. Receiving a documented concern from authors, reviewers, readers, institutions, or other relevant parties.
2. Conducting an initial assessment of the allegation and available supporting evidence.
3. Requesting explanations, original research data, or other relevant documentation from the authors.
4. Consulting independent experts, the Editorial Board, research institutions, or appropriate ethical authorities where necessary.
5. Evaluating whether correction, an Expression of Concern, or retraction is the most appropriate action.
6. Issuing a final editorial decision and communicating it to the relevant parties.
7. Publishing the appropriate notice and updating the article’s publication status and related metadata.

Authors will normally be offered a reasonable opportunity to respond to the concerns raised.

Where a retraction is justified, the Editor-in-Chief may authorize the retraction even if the authors disagree or do not consent, provided that the decision is based on sufficient evidence and appropriate editorial procedures.

If the Editor-in-Chief has a relevant conflict of interest, the decision will be assigned to a suitably qualified, unconflicted editor or editorial representative.

4. Expression of Concern

BIEJ may publish an Expression of Concern when substantial questions have been raised about the reliability or integrity of a published article but the available evidence does not yet support a definitive editorial conclusion.

Such a notice may be appropriate when:

• A formal investigation is underway and its findings are not yet available.
• Available evidence raises serious concerns but remains inconclusive.
• Relevant institutions are unable or unwilling to provide information necessary to resolve the concern.
• A prolonged investigation creates a significant risk that readers may continue relying on potentially unreliable findings.

An Expression of Concern is not a determination of misconduct. It is intended to inform readers transparently about unresolved issues that may affect their interpretation of the article.

Where appropriate, the notice may subsequently be updated, withdrawn, or followed by a correction or retraction in light of new evidence.

5. Publication of Correction and Retraction Notices

All formal post-publication notices will be presented in a manner that enables readers to identify the status of the affected article.

A correction or retraction notice will normally:

• Clearly identify the original article, including its title, authors, publication details, and DOI.
• State whether the notice concerns a correction, retraction, or Expression of Concern.
• Explain the relevant reasons and factual basis for the editorial action.
• Identify the party issuing the notice where appropriate.
• Be made openly accessible through the journal’s website.
• Be linked to the original article, with reciprocal links where technically possible.
• Be reflected in the relevant journal records and DOI metadata as applicable.

BIEJ will ordinarily retain retracted articles in its scholarly archive, accompanied by clear notices identifying their retracted status.

Retracted articles will not be silently deleted, replaced, or presented as valid original publications.

6. Article Version Control and Preservation

BIEJ is committed to maintaining a transparent record of substantive changes to published articles.

When a correction requires changes to an article, the journal will document the nature and date of the modification and identify the relevant correction notice.

Previous published versions will be preserved in the journal’s editorial or archival records where practicable.

For substantive post-publication updates, BIEJ will seek to ensure that the associated DOI records and metadata accurately reflect the publication’s current status, following applicable Crossref requirements and technical capabilities.

7. Withdrawal Before Publication and Exceptional Removal

Withdrawal of a manuscript before formal publication is distinct from the retraction of an already published article.

Requests to withdraw a manuscript during editorial processing will be assessed in accordance with the journal’s submission and editorial policies.

Removal of an already published article from public access will be considered only under exceptional circumstances, such as serious legal restrictions, substantial privacy violations, risks to individuals, or other compelling reasons that cannot adequately be addressed through a correction or retraction notice.

Whenever possible and legally permissible, BIEJ will preserve an appropriate bibliographic record and a notice explaining the reason for removal.

8. Responsibility, Communication, and Appeals

Authors have a responsibility to notify the Editorial Office promptly when they discover a significant error in their published work.

BIEJ will evaluate such concerns objectively, provide the relevant parties with an appropriate opportunity to respond, and communicate editorial decisions in a professional manner.

Authors may submit a reasoned appeal supported by relevant evidence if they believe a correction or retraction decision was based on a material factual or procedural error. Appeals will be considered by an editor or editorial representative who can provide an impartial assessment.

Editorial action will not be delayed unnecessarily when the evidence establishes that the scholarly record requires correction.

9. Commitment to Publication Integrity

BIEJ considers corrections and retractions essential mechanisms of responsible scholarly communication.

The identification of an error does not necessarily indicate misconduct, and the issuance of a correction or retraction should be understood primarily as an effort to maintain an accurate and trustworthy research record.

Through transparent editorial procedures, accessible notices, and appropriate preservation of publication history, BIEJ seeks to uphold the confidence of authors, readers, researchers, and the wider academic community.