JISC

Overview

The aim of the Institutional Data Management Blueprint (IDMB) project is to create a practical and attainable institutional framework for managing research data that facilitates ambitious national and international e-research practice. The objective is to produce a framework for managing research data that encompasses a whole institution (exemplified by the University of Southampton) and based on an analysis of current data management requirements for a representative group of disciplines with a range of different data. Building on the developed policy and service-oriented computing framework, the project will scope and evaluate a pilot implementation plan for an institution-wide data model, which can be integrated into existing research workflows and extend the potential of existing data storage systems, including those linked to discipline and national shared service initiatives. The project will build upon a decade of previous open access repository initiatives at Southampton to create a coherent set of next actions for an institutional, cross-discipline 10-year roadmap, which will be flexible in accommodating future moves to shared services, and provide a seamless transition of data management from the desktop to national/international repositories.

Aims and objectives

• Produce framework for managing research data for an HEI based on an analysis of current data management requirements for a representative group of disciplines with a range of different data building on the developed policy and service-oriented computing framework
• Scope and evaluate a pilot implementation plan for an institution-wide data model integrated into existing research workflows, and extend the potential of existing data storage systems, including those linked to discipline and national shared service initiatives.

Project methodology

The PRINCE2 project management methodology will be adopted, as used at the University of Southampton for all major projects. Individual work packages will be managed by work package managers, and coordinated by the project PI at quarterly meetings. The team will attend all JISC meetings as required and is keen to work with other projects as opportunities present themselves.

The project will be guided by a steering group that will meet every six months, comprising senior management from the key stakeholders at University of Southampton, many of whom are on relevant national and international groups. External members from DCC, University of Oxford and NOCS will provide valuable objective input. This will ensure that the project meets the overall institutional requirements at the highest level within a national context.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• Pathfinder for institutional data management strategy for the next decade;
• Data management institutional blueprint based on an analysis of data management requirements and current best practice; 
• Service-oriented, extensible enterprise architecture model for data management; 
• 10-year business model roadmap; 
• Best practice gap analysis report; 
• Pilot implementation for infrastructure, human and technological; 
• Workshops, training, website and reports for dissemination of best practice.

Technology / Standards used

SOAP/XML and REST service oriented architectural design – guided by JISC e-Framework. ORE-OAI, SWORD