Section outline

    • Here is a video that explain what does a DMP contain and when it should be written:

    • 1. Definition

      DMP means Data Management Plan. It is a management tool structured in headings wich synthesize the description and evolution of data sets during your research project. it allows to prepare the sharing, reuse and long term preservation of data
      Source: DoraNum

      Diagramme circulaire décrivant les étapes FAIR de la gestion des données : planification, collecte, analyse, partage.

      Adaptation of Research data lifecycle – UK Data Service

    • 2. DMP: an essential document

      The DMP has become a widespread management tool. It is increasingly recommended or required worldwide.

      In Europe, projects funded by the European Commission are required to deliver a data management plan: the initial version of the DMP is included among the deliverables six months after the start of the project (Horizon 2020 models, ERC-European Research Council).

      To promote the management and sharing of research data, a lot of European initiatives have been deployed, including tools and infrastructures (e.g. the Zenodo repository, the OpenAIRE infrastructure, etc.). In the same way, many institutes, organizations and institutions propose institutional DMP models available to their communities.

    • 3. Actors and contributors

      The researcher is not alone to write his DMP. The DMP is an opportunity of collaboration with the various stakeholders of the project: scientists, IT specialists, data librarians, project managers, lawyers... Data management requires a collective effort!


      Designed by Freepik ; Designed by macrovector / Freepik Designed by makyzz / Freepik

      Moreover, universities, infrastructures and research organizations often issue recommendations to their research communities.

      Funders (such as the European Commission or Science Europe) and certain publishers can give precise recommendations (for example: obligation to write a DMP within 6 months of the start of the project for projects funded by Science Europe) or propose advices (for example: the European Commission indicates the existence of the Zenodo repository in its Horizon 2020 guide).


    • 4. DMP: a project management tool

      It is an evolving, dynamic and continuously updated document (introduction of a new dataset, patent deposit, changes in the consortium...). It is also a project management tool that facilitate the organization and description of data. It allows to define responsibilities, resources and produce FAIR data.

      Data Organization
      The DMP helps to organize data well throughout the project.

      Evolving Document

      Start drafting the DMP from the beginning of the project, with already known or planned elements. Then complete the DMP progressively. Plan for at least 2 versions: at the beginning and end of the project. For projects longer than 30 months, an intermediate version is required.

      Data Description
      In the DMP, describe how data will be obtained, processed, organized, stored, secured, preserved, shared... (data lifecycle).

      Responsibilities
      In the DMP, designate the person(s) responsible for data management for all project stages and within the partnership if applicable: data entry; metadata production; data quality control; data storage, sharing and archiving; DMP updating. Individuals can be named specifically or a function can be indicated if the person occupying it might change during the project.

      Resources
      Evaluate the necessary resources (budget, allocated time, personnel) to implement the actions described in the DMP: Time needed to prepare data for storage, sharing and archiving; equipment costs and personnel remuneration; storage costs (dedicated servers, processing, maintenance, security, access...), sharing costs (website, publication...) and data archiving expenses.

      Reliable Data
      The DMP allows data producers to ask themselves the right questions and thus improve the reliability of their data.

      DMP contribute to initiate very early a collective work on good practices and to anticipate questions related to data management (such as the choice of a repository, how to document the data ...).


    • 5. DMP structuration

      Many DMP models have been created by organizations, institutes and funders for their users, in order to respond to specific features or local contexts…Nevertheless, these models contain the same elements in accordance to the data life cycle:

      • Administrative informations
      • Description of data
      • Documentation, metadata, standards
      • Data storage during the project
      • Sharing data in a repository
      • Persistent archiving
      • Data security
      • Legal and ethical aspects
      • Responsibilities
      • Costs

      Consult the “data management checklist” created by ETH-Bibliothek; Bibliothèque EPFL :

      Source : https://zenodo.org/record/3332363#.Xz44rDaP5aQ

    • 6. Data management planning tools – DMPonline

    •  7. In brief

      To conclude, see the summary sheet on the DMP proposed by DataOne:

      Source: https://dataoneorg.github.io/Education//lessons/03_planning/L03_DataManagement_Handout.pdf




    • External Resources

      Study materials