There has been much debate around the role of metrics in scholarly communication, with particular focus on the misapplication of journal metrics, such as the impact factor in the assessment of research and researchers. Various initiatives have advocated for a change in this culture, including the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which invites stakeholders throughout the scholarly communication ecosystem to sign up and show their support for practices designed to address the misuse of metrics. This case study provides an overview of the process undertaken by a large academic publisher (Taylor & Francis Group) in signing up to DORA and implementing some of its key practices in the hope that it will provide some guidance to others considering becoming a signatory. Our experience suggests that research, consultation and flexibility are crucial components of the process. Additionally, approaching signing with a project mindset versus a 'sign and forget' mentality can help organizations to understand the practical implications of signing, to anticipate and mitigate potential obstacles and to support cultural change.
To some, the publishing industry seems to move at pace measured in geological ages, especially when compared to the fast-moving digital and technology industries. Many have described how publishers were caught on the back foot by the move of open access (OA) from the fringes of publishing to the mainstream, particularly within the UK following the publication of the 'Finch' Report
1. OA has had a marked influence on the publishing industry, leading publishers to reflect on current practices, to have a much more granular approach to systems and processes, and to be engaging even more than previously with other players in the publishing landscape. OA is both a strategic challenge and an opportunity. But for a publisher like Taylor & Francis with a significant number of subscription-based journals, OA creates new levels of complexity, and requires the ability to adapt to new requirements within short timeframes.How are established, subscriptionbased publishers making the transition to open access?
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