Research project
The aim of the joint project was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the various processes in the open access publication workflow and the assigned roles. Both general and publisher-specific business processes were identified, which will serve as the basis for a future workflow management system (WFMS). The WFMS should be able to flexibly control collaborative processes and document project statuses. In addition, this WFMS should be reusable, individually customisable and multi-client capable for the majority of OA academic publishers.
Procedure
The research project was funded for a period of two years and carried out from September 2023 to December 2025 in cooperation with the University Library of Potsdam and HTWK Leipzig.
Workshop
In an opening workshop, the requirements of established university publishers for a WFMS were collected and evaluated, best practices were recorded, and ideas for their own work were identified. Read more ...
Development of tender specifications
Based on the present workflow model, a procedure and extensive working materials for creating a specification sheet were developed. Read more ...
Interviews with publishers
Expert interviews with selected publishers were used to determine requirements, working methods, environments and structures, which serve as the basis for an analysis of the current and target situations. Read more ...
Pilot publishers
Using two pilot publishers as examples, their specific workflows were described on the basis of the abstract workflow model, and two specific specifications were created using the materials for developing a specification document. Read more ...
Feasibility study and demonstrator
Existing workflow components were connected by middleware that was to be developed. A feasibility study was conducted and a demonstrator was developed. Read more ...
Transfer workshop
The transfer workshop focused on the current challenges and prospects of academic publishing in university presses. The main topics were workflow management and the technical and organisational infrastructure for OA university presses. Read more ...
