Alliance Software Management Plan (SMP) Template

Software has become an essential part of modern research and is increasingly recognized as an important output of research. Despite years of wide adoption of Data Management Plans (DMPs) to ensure good data management practices are followed, in Canada there were currently no clear guidelines that instruct various stakeholders how to plan for a piece of software to be properly developed, maintained, shared, and reused. To address this gap, the Alliance launched the Alliance Software Management Plan (SMP) Template. A Software Management Plan (SMP) details how a software project is developed, maintained, and curated, ensuring long-term accessibility and usability. The SMP can help funders to encourage, support and promote software recognition and good practices (e.g., FAIR4RS), facilitate culture change and, support communities, ensuring consistent adherence to certain software management standards and policies. It can also support and upskill researchers to develop higher-quality software, which will likely be an important part of a researcher’s portfolio in the future.