Chapter 28. Authorship in action

This chapter considers (the sometimes contentious) issue of authorship. Recounting a conversation with delegates at a conference, this chapter contemplates critical issues including the basis of awarding authorship, the ordering of authorship and the processes of dealing with authorship. In doing so, this chapter grapples with tricky matters including what constitutes a substantive contribution and ethically, who is entitled to claim authorship and to what degree? To aid the reader to navigate authorship dilemmas, this chapter closes with several ‘lessons’ derived from the delegate collective and formal published guidance. These lessons highlight the importance of crystal-clear communication pertaining to individuals’ expectations and obligations to a project and subsequent manuscript, and the enjoyment and professional development opportunities that can be derived from co-authorship under the right circumstances.