EBS Citation Style

Enigma Business School Citation Style (EBSCS)

Academic Integrity, Global Standards, Digital Intelligence

1. Philosophical Foundation of EBSCS

The Enigma Business School Citation Style (EBSCS) is developed to uphold academic integrity, global scholarly standards, and intellectual transparency, while embracing the realities of digital scholarship, interdisciplinary research, and global knowledge exchange.

EBSCS integrates:

  • The precision of Chicago Notes–Bibliography

  • The clarity of APA-style in-text referencing

  • The flexibility required for digital, policy-oriented, and practitioner-based research

EBSCS is designed for:

  • Academic research

  • Thesis and Dissertations

  • Policy papers

  • Business white papers

  • Executive and professional publications

2. Core Principles of EBSCS

  1. Clarity – Citations must be immediately understandable.

  2. Consistency – Uniform formatting across all documents.

  3. Traceability – Every claim must be traceable to a verifiable source.

  4. Ethical Attribution – Respect for intellectual ownership.

  5. Digital Readiness – Seamless integration of online and multimedia sources.

  6. Global Compatibility – Alignment with international academic norms.

3. In-Text Citation System

3.1 Author–Year Identifier

EBSCS uses an author year identifier enclosed in brackets, ensuring readability and academic precision.

Format:

 
(AuthorLastName, Year)
(AuthorLastName Year, p. xx)
 

Examples:

  • Cognitive development progresses through structured stages (Piaget, 1954).

  • Leadership effectiveness is shaped by contextual intelligence (Leonard 2020, p. 87).

3.2 Multiple Sources

 
(Smith, 2019; Garcia, 2020; Johnson, 2022)
 

4. Direct Quotations

4.1 Short Quotations (≤ 40 words)

Use quotation marks and include page numbers.

Example:

“Leadership is not authority, but responsibility,” (Leonard 2020, p. 112).

4.2 Block Quotations (> 40 words)

  • Indented

  • No quotation marks

  • Citation placed after punctuation

5. Footnotes and Endnotes

Footnotes are optional but recommended for:

  • Clarifications

  • Legal references

  • Extended commentary

First Reference (Full Form):

 
Avitus Leonard, Leadership Dynamics: A Comprehensive Study
(The Guide Online Publisher, 2020), 45–58.
 

Subsequent References:

 
Leonard, Leadership Dynamics, 73.
 

6. Reference List / Bibliography

6.1 General Rules

  • Titled “References” (research papers) or “Bibliography” (books/monographs)

  • Alphabetical by author’s last name

  • Hanging indent (0.5 inch)

  • Italicize book and journal titles

7. Source-Specific Formats

7.1 Books

 
AuthorLastName, FirstName. (Year). Title of Book. Publisher: ISBN.
 

Example:

Baker, Michael J. (2022). The Marketing Book. Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 9781315890005.
 

7.2 Journal Articles

 
AuthorLastName, FirstName. (Year). “Article Title”. Journal Name, vol. x, no. x, Year, pp. xx–xx.
 

Example:

Smith, Jane. (2021). “Impact of Climate Change on Urban Planning”. Environmental Planning Review, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 123–140.
 

7.3 Online Articles / Websites

 
AuthorLastName, FirstName. “Title”. Website Name, Date. URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
 

Example:

Johnson, Emily. “Building Meaningful Online Communities”. Dei Universe Insights, 15 August 2023. https://www.deiuniverse.org/community. Accessed 10 January 2025.
 

7.4 Theses and Dissertations

 
AuthorLastName, FirstName. (2022). Title. Type of Work, Institution.
 

Example:

Garcia, Maria. (2022). Sustainable Urban Development Strategies: Case Studies in Modern Cities. PhD Dissertation, University of Sustainability.
 

7.5 Reports & Policy Papers

 
Institution Name. Title of Report. Publisher. URL.
 

Example:

ASEAN Foundation. (2025). Report of Higher Education in Southeast Asian Nations. https://aseanfoundation.org/report/higher-education/.
 

7.6 Sacred and Classical Texts

 
Title of Text. Version. Publisher, Year.
 

Example:

Holy Bible. New International Version. Biblica, 2011.
 

7.7 Multimedia (Video, Podcast, Interview)

 
Creator. “Title.” Platform, Date. URL.
 

Example:

HJay Phoenix Singh. The Most Straightforward Path to Becoming a College Professor. 2 April 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDZebGqIIZc.
 

8. Use of Abbreviations

  • Use internationally recognized abbreviations (vol., no., ed., pp.)

  • Define uncommon abbreviations at first mention

9. Formatting Standards for Academic Writing

9.1 Research Papers

  • Title: Bold, 14 pt, centered

  • Main text: 12 pt, double-spaced

  • Subheadings: Italicized, 12 pt

9.2 Theses & Dissertations

  • Structured chapters

  • Abstract required

  • Consistent EBSCS citation throughout

10. Page Layout

  • Left margin: 4 cm

  • Right margin: 3 cm

  • Top & bottom: 3 cm

11. Ethical Standards & Academic Conduct

EBSCS strictly prohibits:

  • Plagiarism

  • Citation manipulation

  • AI-generated content without disclosure

  • Unverifiable or fabricated sources

All authors are expected to:

  • Cite primary sources when possible

  • Ensure accuracy and completeness

  • Respect intellectual contributions across disciplines

12. Closing Statement

The Enigma Business School Citation Style (EBSCS) is more than a technical guideline, it is an academic philosophy that reflects Enigma’s commitment to global excellence, ethical scholarship, and future-oriented knowledge creation.

Enigma Business School (EBS)