Data Management
Data Management Plan
Data Management
Data Management Plan
What is a data management plan?
A data management plan (DMP) is a tool you can use to structure and reflect on the key aspects of how you handle your research data.
In recent years, making a data management plan is becoming more and more valuable and not only for the benefit of the research project itself. In many cases funding may depend on a preliminary plan and working with a full plan throughout the entire project. AAU encourages researchers to write DMP’s for all research activities (see AAU’s policy for research data management, 3.1).
There are many suggestions on what to include in your data management plan and some may be specific for your research area. In general, most templates and alike share the same topics. In collaboration with DeiC (Danish e-Infrastructure Corporation) and other Danish universities, AAU offers an online DMP tool: DMPonline.
DMPonline lets you work with your data management plan throughout the entire project. Also, you can find examples and templates such as a generic AAU template and Horizon Europe. If you need help with a template that is or isn’t available on DMPonline, you can contact CLAAUDIA for assistance.
A data management plan is a living document.
A DMP is meant to be an agile document that changes and develops with your research. The research process is rarely linear and therefore the DMP cannot be written as a static plan to follow. The DMP will help you structure, reflect and improve on your data handling process and should be updated continuously through your entire project.
Benefits of writing a data management plan
Data management
Creating a data management plan
Advise for your data management plan
- 1
Start your DMP as early as possible
Start writing your DMP as early as possible – remember you don’t have to write a finished plan from day 1, your DMP will change over time to reflect the changes in your project.
- 2
Use a template
Use a DMP-template to ensure that you cover all relevant topics. Be aware that some funders require that you use a specific template.
- 3
Update regularly
Work with your DMP in a structured way that makes sense for you and your research process. Remember to regularly update your DMP so it reflects changes or new decisions.
- 4
Argue for your choices
Argue for your choices in your DMP – describe why you have chosen to handle the data in that exact way.
Assistance and workshops
CLAAUDIA’s data management team is ready to assist you. CLAAUDIA will review and give you feedback on your DMP at any stage, and they can offer to do a workshop on DMPs, the practical use of DMPonline and the connection to the FAIR principles.
Talk to CLAAUDIA
CLAAUDIA is a specialized team of data scientists, data managers and data stewards within ITS who provide access and support for a line of virtual services to researchers as well as assistance in data management planning, active data handling, data publishing and data archiving.