Research data management planning

A data management plan (DMP) is a tool to help you manage research data over the entire course of a project.

A DMP describes:

• Research data that will be created or collected
• Who will own and have access to the data
• Data management practices to support ethical and legal considerations and compliance
• Software and equipment required to collect, process and analyse research data
• Who will be responsible for data management and governance

Good research data management planning will save time, reduce uncertainty and confusion, demonstrate compliance and Good Research Practice (GRP), and avoid costly errors. A DMP is required for any research project involving sensitive or restricted research data at the University of Auckland.  

Overviews

Downloadable introductions, describing the benefits of using the DMP tool and the steps to get started:

• Overview for researchers 
• Overview for postgraduate supervisors 
• Overview for postgraduate students

Example DMPs

The DMP examples provided here illustrate how researchers translate planning principles into clear, practical actions. They highlight a range of research
methodologies, disciplines and project types, showing how researchers address common considerations. They are not templates to copy verbatim but rather guides to illustrate the level of detail expected and spark ideas for your own planning:

• Mixed methods pilot study 
• Qualitative (interviews) 
• Materials engineering (Research security assessment)

Develop and review your DMP

• DMP user guide: Technical support to navigate the DMP tool, including step-by-step instructions to help you create and update your DMP and save a PDF copy for sharing. 
• DMP checklist: Use this checklist to review your DMP for completeness and to ensure it contains information required for ethical or funder requirements. 
• Research data management consultation: In-person or online consultations with the Centre for eResearch to support research data management and planning requirements. 

Training opportunities

• Writing a data management plan workshop: Two-hour workshop, particularly aimed at research staff and students planning a project or ethics application. 
• Tailored training and support for data management planning to research groups who work with sensitive data. Email requests to researchdata@auckland.ac.nz. 

External resources

• DMP resources from the Australian Research Data Commons: Elements of Data Management Plans and example DMPs
• Ten simple rules for creating a good data management plan

Good research data management planning helps postgraduate researchers to protect their work, comply with institutional and other requirements, fulfil thesis submission requirements and save time in the future. 

These materials introduce the University’s DMP tool and offer practical,
stage-by-stage discussion guides for embedding good data management
practices throughout the thesis journey. 

• DMP Steps for Postgraduate Research: Outlines a four-stage approach to support students in developing and updating a project DMP. Includes prompts and expectations at each step, helping supervisors embed good data practices early and consistently.  
• Discussion Guide 1: Initial Review: Focuses on project scoping, data creation planning, ethical and other considerations, storage and access and early identification of data ownership and custodianship. 
• Discussion Guide 2: After Data Collection: Supports review of data collection methods, organisation, documentation practices, and consistent implementation of security and access conditions. 
• Discussion Guide 3: After Data Analysis: Covers the documentation of data quality and processing, versions of datasets for analyses, and reviews the implementation of storage ethics, privacy and security. 
• Discussion Guide 4: Final review: Guides final decisions on long-term storage/archive and retention, future data access conditions and custodianship after thesis submission. 

What is the University’s online DMP tool? 

• The online DMP tool will replace the existing text-based DMP template. 
• The University is using ReDBox, an open-source software supported by QCIF. The DMP tool includes templates to follow and extensive guidance that will support different steps of your research journey. These have been co-designed with researchers as part of the University’s Research Data Management (RDM) Programme. 
• Create a DMP when planning research and then review and update throughout the project. 

What are the benefits of using the online DMP tool? 

The tool:

• Simplifies data management planning and saves you time in the future 
• Keeps project information in one place that can be shared and discussed with project team members 
• Helps you organise and store data securely to reduce the risk of data loss or unauthorised use of project data 
• Meets University and funder requirements and helps you to apply best research practices 

Who has access to my DMP information? 

• You can select permissions to decide who can view and/or edit your DMP. 
• Some of the information in your DMP will be obtained from existing University systems (e.g. name, email, project grant number).  
• This information, as well as information you provide in your DMP, may be viewed by DMP administrators at the University of Auckland to support DMP completion. 
• Some information you provide may be shared with service providers at the University of Auckland for research data management and planning purposes (e.g. research data storage requirements, reporting on research requirements for planning, etc.)

Research Data Support Services
Email: researchdata@auckland.ac.nz