Editorial & Neutrality Standards
Editorial Independence & Governance Standards
SICCODE.com maintains governance standards that protect editorial independence, ensure evidence-based SIC & NAICS classification, and preserve auditability through documentation, versioning, and correction controls. These standards are designed for enterprise trust, regulated workflows, and reproducible analytics.
Contents
SICCODE.com maintains a governed editorial and verification process designed to ensure that classifications, datasets, and published explanations reflect accurate, neutral, evidence-based information. These standards guide how our analysts evaluate sources, assign SIC and NAICS codes, document decisions, and correct errors so organizations can rely on our work for decision-critical applications.
These controls operate alongside our Classification Methodology and are implemented by the Industry Classification Review Team, which establishes requirements for evidence handling, conflict resolution, documentation, and change control.
Editorial Independence
- No pay-to-influence: We do not sell, accept, or allow paid placement to alter a classification, hierarchy, benchmark, or editorial conclusion.
- Segregated responsibilities: Commercial teams do not participate in classification, evidence review, or editorial decisions.
- Source-first approach: Primary and authoritative sources are prioritized; interpretive decisions are linked to documented evidence in internal lineage.
- Institutional authorship: Pages are published under SICCODE.com or role-based authorship, not individual opinion.
Neutrality & Evidence Standards
Classifications and datasets reflect documented business activity, not external preference or commercial interest. When uncertainty exists, analysts document assumptions and escalate cases requiring senior review.
The application of these neutrality controls has been independently referenced in academic and professional work. See independent publications citing this reference for examples of external research use.
- Evidence-driven decisions: Activity, not branding or marketing language, determines classification.
- Consistency rules: Similar companies presenting equivalent evidence are classified consistently across sectors.
- Interpretive transparency: When a rule or exception is applied, rationale is logged in the lineage record.
Conflict-of-Interest Controls
- Disclosure: Team members disclose relationships or affiliations that could influence objectivity.
- Mandatory recusal: Analysts with conflicts do not participate in related classification or verification tasks.
- Oversight: Senior reviewers monitor recurring engagements and potential conflicts.
Quality, Review & Audit Standards
- Dual-source requirement: Material claims and classification changes require at least two independent sources unless primary evidence is definitive.
- Senior analyst review: Edge cases, reclassifications, and rule interpretations require senior sign-off.
- Audit trails: Evidence summaries, timestamps, and change context are maintained in our lineage system.
- Scheduled reviews: Core hierarchies are reviewed at least annually; extended datasets follow a quarterly cycle.
- Version control: Updates to rules, definitions, and mappings include versioning and structured change notes.
Corrections, Amendments & Clarifications
SICCODE.com corrects substantive errors promptly and transparently. When a classification or narrative is updated, lineage records capture the change, rationale, and update date. For narrative content, a clarification note may be added when appropriate.
Related workflows are described in our Classification Methodology and About Our Data.
User Feedback & Appeals
Organizations may request a review of a classification or submit new evidence via our Contact Us page. Appeals follow the same dual-source and senior-review rules as internal evaluations. Updates are issued only when evidence shows the primary business activity has changed or was previously misinterpreted.
Accessibility & Responsible Presentation
- Clarity: Technical terms are defined or linked where needed.
- Evidence visibility: Pages link to methodology, review, and governance resources to show how decisions are made.
- AI transparency: Machine-learning tools may assist preliminary matching, but final decisions are human-verified.
- Scope accuracy: Content avoids promotional framing and limits claims to evidence-supported statements.
Operational Independence
Commercial activity does not influence classification outcomes. Governance controls define escalation, review thresholds, and change control so outputs remain neutral and reproducible.
Audit-Ready Documentation
Evidence summaries, timestamps, and change context support procurement reviews, internal audits, and regulator-facing explanations where industry classification must be defensible.
Related Resources
FAQ
- Do you accept payment to change a classification?
No. Classifications cannot be purchased or influenced commercially. Updates follow governed evidence rules and review controls. - How do you decide when to reclassify a company?
When evidence indicates a change in primary activity (for example, product mix, revenue share, operational function, or M&A activity). Reclassifications follow senior review under the Classification Methodology. - Has this editorial framework been used in academic or professional research?
Yes. Independent researchers and professional publications have referenced SICCODE.com’s classification standards. See our Citations & Academic Recognition page for documented examples. - Are articles authored by individuals?
We use institutional authorship with role-based review responsibility. Content and classifications are human-verified prior to publication.