Research data management planning
Create a research Data Management Plan using the University’s online DMP tool.
What is a DMP?
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
Why should you have a DMP?
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.
Getting started
To create a DMP:
- Log in to the University’s online DMP tool by selecting your organisation and entering your University username and password.
- Select PLAN and then CREATE or Create DMP from the PLAN tile box on the dashboard.
- Enter the mandatory fields (marked with an asterisk) and save your DMP.
- Explore the help and support below if needed.
Help and support
Overviews
Downloadable introductions, describing the benefits of using the DMP tool and the steps to get started:
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 health data
- 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.
Guidance for postgraduate researchers
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.
- Discussion Guide 1: Initial Review
- Discussion Guide 2: After Data Collection
- Discussion Guide 3: After Data Analysis
- Discussion Guide 4: Final review
Frequently asked questions
Who has access to my DMP information?
- You can select permissions to decide who can view and/or edit your DMP.
- 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.)
Contact
Research Data Support Services
Email: researchdata@auckland.ac.nz
eResearch Engagement Lead
Email: Laura Armstrong