In the previous section, you reflected on why a Node data management strategy matters and what already exists in your Node. The next step is to take a closer look at your context and organise this information.
Why context matters
A data management strategy must reflect the real situation of the Node. Each Node brings together different institutions, services and research communities. Without a basic understanding of this landscape, it becomes difficult to set priorities or design a realistic plan.
A strategy also depends on people. No single person can see the whole picture. A small group with different perspectives helps ensure that the strategy is grounded in practice and reflects how data is actually managed.
What to understand
Start by building a simple overview of your Node context. You do not need great detail at this stage. Focus on the elements that shape how data is managed in practice.
Use these questions to guide your first overview.
| Area | Questions to guide you |
|---|---|
| Governance | Who makes decisions on data management? Where are these discussed or approved? |
| Data landscape | What research domains and data types are present? What workflows are common? |
| Services | What RDM services and tools exist? Who uses them and who maintains them? |
| Policies and standards | Which guidelines or standards apply? |
| Training and support | What support is available for researchers? Where are the gaps? |
| Sustainability | How are services funded and staffed? What is stable or uncertain? |
Exercise: map your Node context
Create a simple overview of your Node using the areas above.
Fill in the table below with short notes. Keep it concise. You can refine it later.
| Area | Notes |
|---|---|
| Governance | |
| Data landscape | |
| Services | |
| Policies and standards | |
| Training and support | |
| Sustainability |
Example – a simple Node context overview
This is an example of what a simple overview might look like:
| Area | Notes |
|---|---|
| Governance | Decisions made by Node coordinator and steering group |
| Data landscape | Life sciences and clinical data |
| Services | Repository, training programme, helpdesk |
| Policies and standards | FAIR principles, national guidelines |
| Training and support | Workshops and limited one-on-one support |
| Sustainability | Project-based funding, limited staff continuity |
Organising your team
Based on your context overview, identify who should be involved in developing your Node data management strategy.
Once you have a basic understanding of your Node context, the next step is to bring together a small group to develop your strategy.
Start with two or three people. This is enough to begin. You can expand the group later as needed.
A useful group often includes:
- Node coordination
- Data stewards or data managers
- Service or infrastructure leads
- Training or support staff
- Community representatives
Quick step: outline your team
List the people who should be involved in developing your Node data management strategy.
Mark:
- essential now
- useful later
Agree early on:
- how often you meet
- how decisions are made
- where you document your work
As a first step, draft a simple agenda for your initial meeting.
Include 2–3 key questions you want to answer together.
What’s next
You will build on the overview and team you have just defined.
In the next section, you will define what to include in your Node data management strategy and how to structure its content.
Examples from Nodes
These are examples of small steps Nodes can take:
Making existing work visible
A Node created a simple overview of its services and data activities. This helped identify overlaps and gaps.
Involving the right people early
A Node included its training coordinator from the start. This helped connect data stewardship with researcher support.
Starting small
A Node began with two people and a rough overview. They invited others later for specific input.
Create your own example
✍ For contributors: Choose one of the examples above. Add your Node, name and role, and write a short story (max. 3 paragraphs): what was the situation, what did you do, and what did it help achieve. You can describe a small step or first attempt.
Node: [Your Node name]
Contributor: [Name]
Role: [e.g. Data steward, Node coordinator]
✍ Your example:
Describe how you explored your Node context or organised your team. What was unclear, what did you do, and what did it help improve?