Data Management Planning for an Eight-Institution, Multi-Year Research Project

Abstract

While data management planning for grant applications has become commonplace alongside articles providing guidance for such plans, examples of data plans as they have been created, implemented, and used for specific projects are only beginning to appear in the scholarly record. This article describes data management planning for an eight-institution, multi-year research project. The project leveraged four data management plans (DMP) in total, one for the funding application and one for each of the three distinct project phases. By understanding researcher roles, development and content of each DMP, team internal and external challenges, and the overall benefits of creating and using the plans, these DMPs provide a demonstration of the utility of this project management tool.