Research data management (RDM) is vital for facilitating better research. Yet to fully convey its true value to institutional managers, funders and government, organisations need a clear supporting business case and methods to measure costs.
Background
There are currently very few published business cases, or detailed information about the costs involved for RDM. However, there's a mandate to publish and preserve research data.
Without a clear, evidence based business case organisations can find it difficult to put funding in place for RDM services. Even where services do exist, the lack of robust costing models and comparisons frustrates attempts to measure and realise efficiency savings to reduce costs.
Whilst there is some movement towards standard practices (eg, use of RDM plans) there is little cost standardisation. Where tools and techniques exist to help measure and compare processes, they're not optimised for research data management.
What we’re doing
We’re producing a clearly articulated, high level business case for RDM underpinned by economic evidence where possible. This will provide policy makers, funders and those in decision making roles in institutional management with unambiguous reasons to invest in RDM.
We’re also investigating the current state-of-the-art for RDM costing standards, tools and techniques with a view to providing access to case studies and signposting.
We will develop additional tools, methodologies and possibly services to help practitioners identify and manage the costs and benefits of RDM, and develop robust and credible business cases.
Related projects
Our research at risk co-design challenge will develop shared services and solutions for managing research data.
