In the previous chapter, you decided where your Node wants to go and which priorities to take forward.
Now you need a workable route from intention to action. This chapter helps you decide what to do first, who needs to be involved and what you need to make progress.
Make the priority actionable
A priority gives direction, but it may still be too broad to act on.
For example, make data stewardship expertise easier to find across the Node is a clear priority. A practical first action could be to create an overview of existing expertise across partner institutions.
Start with an action that is useful and manageable. You can build from there.
Choose a first action that creates progress or gives you information you need for the next decision.
Exercise: build your action plan
Take the priorities you selected in Chapter 5 and turn them into practical actions.
| Priority | Action | Lead | Resources and dependencies | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add a priority | Describe what needs to happen | Add the person or group taking the lead | Note relevant people, resources, information, decisions or other dependencies | Add a realistic timeframe |
Use existing structures where you can. A current working group, meeting, service or document may already provide a good place to start.
Check what the action depends on
Some actions can begin straight away. Others depend on staff time, expertise, funding, agreement from another organisation or an earlier decision. Be realistic about what is actually available and make these dependencies visible in your plan.
If something needs to happen first, add that to your plan rather than setting an unrealistic deadline.
For example, creating a shared overview of data stewardship expertise may first require contacts in each partner institution who can provide the information.
A useful plan shows both what you can do and what needs to be resolved before you can move forward.
Keep ownership clear
Someone needs to keep each action moving, but that person does not need to do everything.
The action lead is not necessarily the same as the decision owner you identified in Chapter 5. The decision owner can agree the direction, while the lead keeps the practical work moving.
The lead can bring together contributions from different institutions, follow up on decisions and make sure the next step does not disappear between meetings.
If no one has the time or mandate to lead an action, revisit the plan. The priority may need to wait, become smaller or be taken forward elsewhere.
What your result could look like
| Priority | Action | Lead | Resources and dependencies | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make data stewardship expertise easier to find | Create a first overview of existing roles and expertise | Node coordination | Input from partner institutions and existing role information | First overview within three months |
The next action can follow from what you learn. You do not need to plan every step in advance.
Review the plan
Before moving on, check whether the plan is realistic.
Can the actions start with the people, expertise and resources available? Is the necessary funding or decision making in place? Are important dependencies visible? Is someone clearly taking each action forward?
Adjust the plan if an action is too large or depends on something that has not yet been agreed.
A short plan that people can actually use is more valuable than a detailed plan that quickly becomes outdated.
What’s next
You now have a practical plan for moving your selected priorities forward.
In the next chapter, you will consider how to monitor progress, review the strategy and keep it useful over time.
Related pages
Real world example
Examples from ELIXIR Luxembourg on developing and implementing RDM services