The data management plan (DMP for short) should be drawn up in the planning phase and revisited throughout the duration of the project. In the case of a larger research project, it is recommended that one person be designated who is responsible for planning and implementing research data management. All project participants should be made familiar with the contents of the DMP.

A data management plan is not a static document; it will be revised, supplemented, and adapted during the life of the project. The following points should be described in the DMP:

• What kind of data is used or created?
• How are the data generated (methods/tools/software)?
• What general conditions and factors apply (standards and policies of the discipline, the research institution or the funding institution)?
• What data formats will be available and what scope will the data have?
• How will data be organized and named?
• Where will the data be stored and how will the data be backed up regularly?
• How will sensitive data be protected?
• How and where will the data and the context of its creation be described and documented?
• How and where will the data be archived after the project ends?
• Will the data be published? If not, why? If yes, where and with what kind of license

There are many different templates and checklists for DMPs, including the DFG Checklist Regarding the Handling of Research Data (PDF), the Science Europe Guide (PDF) (for researchers p. 15-30), or the subject-specific CESSDA template (PDF) for the social sciences.

Based on the DFG checklist, the Research Data Management team at Freie Universität has created a completed sample DMP (PDF) and a blank template (RTF) that you can use as a guide.

Useful tools to create a plan are RDMO and DMPonline; these are freely available for use.

If you are writing a data management plan, you can contact us, and we will advise you on suitable templates and support you in filling in all points in the best possible way.