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One approval box can obscure several different publication decisions. Scientific interpretation, journal submission and allocation of project resources are not necessarily decisions made by the same person under the same authority or responsibility.
The publication decision
At publication start-up, create a short map of decisions and accountable roles. Identify responsibility for interpretation, statistical verification, author review and administrative delivery. A coordinator can consolidate comments and track progress without owning every scientific conclusion. Consider the target journal’s expectations for author responsibility separately from the internal project-management structure.
Worked example
For example, a project manager wants to submit on schedule while an author challenges a subgroup interpretation. The example workflow identifies the scientific owner and resolution route beforehand. The coordinator records the concern, arranges the relevant data review and does not close it merely because the timetable is complete. Actual decision owners remain visible for the final version.
Coordination checks
- List scientific decisions separately from administrative submission tasks.
- Link open comments and their reviewers to the relevant version.
- Check submission authority against the final author-review arrangements.
Acceptance and boundaries
Acceptance means participants understand which decisions they can make and when consultation is needed. The map does not automatically establish authorship, which requires separate assessment of contributions and journal criteria. Several people may share responsibility, but an unresolved question should not become ownerless. Update communication and decision handovers when publication personnel change.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a coordinator approve the scientific conclusion?
- Only where their authority and contribution justify that role; administrative coordination is not a substitute for scientific review.
- Is this responsibility map a journal requirement?
- It is a recommended project tool here. Review the actual submission requirements of the selected journal separately.