Complaints procedures

This procedure applies to complaints about the policies, procedures, or actions of the RAC's editorial staff. We welcome complaints as they provide an opportunity and a spur for improvement, and we aim to respond quickly, courteously, and constructively. The procedure outlined below aims to be fair to those making complaints and those complained about.

 

Defining "complaint"

Our definition of a complaint is as follows:

- The complainant defines his or her expression of unhappiness as a complaint; and

- We infer that the complainant is not simply disagreeing with a decision we have made or something we have published (which happens every day) but thinks that there has been a failure of process - for example, a long delay or a rude response - or a severe misjudgment.

- The complaint must be about something that is within the responsibility of the RAC's editorial department - content or process.

 

Making a complaint

The best way to reach us is by email. Complaints should be directly emailed to rac.complaints@anpad.org.br, where they are dealt with confidentially. This email address is solely for complaints as defined above - site-related issues. Complaints at RAC are resolved through a process of response and escalation:

- Wherever possible complaints will be dealt with by the relevant member of the editorial staff, escalating to an associate editor if required.

-  In the case that this initial response is insufficient, the complainant can request for the complaint to be escalated to the Editor-in-chief, whose decision is final.

-  If a complainant remains unhappy after what the editor considers a definitive reply, the complainant may complain to an external body (see below).

 

Complaint timeframes

-  All complaints will be formally acknowledged within seven working days.

- If possible a full response will be made within four weeks. If this is not possible, an interim response will be given within four weeks. Further interim responses will be provided until the complaint is resolved.

- Complaints that are not under the control of the RAC’s editorial staff will be sent to the RAC’s Editorial board.

- Complaints about editorial matters are sent to the Editor-in-chief.

It's the responsibility of RAC’s Editor to maintain and develop RAC's profile and reputation. The Editor also has the final responsibility for the content, ensuring that it meets the Aims and Scope of RAC and reflects changes in the field by presenting contemporary business management research. A new submission is first evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief (EIC). There are general and specific criteria for manuscripts to get published in RAC and become successful publications. The set of Acceptance and Rejection criteria may help you to maximize the chance to get accepted and minimize the chance to get rejected. Evidently, a paper does not have to measure up to all criteria, but should at least fulfill several of them.

 

Ethical Oversight

Journal of Contemporary Administration (RAC) follows Anpad's Handbook of Best Practices in Scientific Publication, as well as the Academy of Management (AOM) Code of Ethics. Authors are advised to:

Prudence in research design, human subject use, and confidentiality and reporting of results is essential. Proper attribution of work is a necessity. 

Informed Consent: When authors conduct research, they obtain the informed consent of the individual or individuals, using language that is reasonably understandable to that person or persons. Written or oral consent, permission, and assent are documented appropriately.

Ethical Conducting and reporting: It is the duty of authors conducting research to design, implement, analyze, report, and present their findings rigorously.

Handling Confidential Data: Authors have an obligation to ensure the protection of confidential information. When gathering confidential information, they should take into account the long-term uses of the information, including its potential placement in public archives or the examination of information by others. Authors must take reasonable precautions to protect the confidentiality rights of others; Confidential information is treated as such even if it lacks legal protection or privilege; When using private information, authors protect the confidentiality of individually identifiable information. Information is private when an individual can reasonably expect that the information will not be made public with personal identifiers.