Exploiting ORCID, Some Thoughts

One of the interesting aspects of ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier) is that the users have control over the content of their ORCID profile. As a consequence users can decide how they want to exploit the capabilities of the ORCID system.

Since ORCID provides a mechanism for providing an unambiguous identifier for creators, which is associated with the works they produce. Anyone can potentially use ORCID to provide a lasting record of their works, tied to their unique creator identifier. A look at the "Supported Work Types" documentation shows the extent of the current support for many different types of work that are used beyond the research community. For example:

• book, book-chapter, edited-book
• magazine-article, newsletter-article and newspaper-article
• online-resource and website
• artistic-performance

Could be used by any writer, performer, web-designer or self-publisher, possibly forming an alternative to obtaining an ISNI in order to track produced works and provide an online portfolio.

Another possible usage would be to track contributions to works produced by groups or teams. This would be potentially useful for employees and employers when it comes to employee reviews, since contributions to works can often be overlooked. Since ORCID has an API which allows more finely grained access to the data underlying the records shown on the web pages, tracking of contributions could be integrated into existing business tracking systems or become part of reflective workflows for employees.

Another commercial relationship that could potentially exploit ORCID is the building of a works portfolio by a contractor, in order to attract new business. If the portfolio is constructed in conjunction with the businesses that they have been contracted by, this would assist in providing evidence, not only of the organisations they have worked with, but also the kinds of works produced, the types of contribution and their abilities to perform as a contractor with and within these organisations.

ORCID provides an interesting option for anyone who produces works as a creator or contributor, to produce a portfolio of their works which is unambiguously tied to them as an individual. While the current focus is on the works produced by researchers, it is by no means limited to researchers. As a options for tracking works it has applications in any area where works are produced and there is a value in tracking contributions to those works and providing creators with a mechanism for showing their works and contributions to works.