Paradigm Shift: from Research Data to Research Output Management Planning (ROMPi) - An Open Proposal

Conventional data management plans (DMPs) have often struggled to align with dynamic contemporary researcher workflows and the multifaceted nature of the cultural shift to open research practice. DMPs should serve as strategic research data governance tools, but their top-down implementation often hinders their efficacy in addressing the intricate relationships between research project workflows, deliverables and principles (FAIR, CARE).

In this background, we present an open proposal for a paradigm shift embodied by the Research Output Management Planning (ROMPi) approach.

ROMPi proposes a bottom-up, holistic, and researcher-centric strategy, seamlessly integrating RDM into the standard research project management framework. It is a comprehensive approach and a paradigm shift that reframes the traditional DMPs, emphasising project objectives and the broader spectrum of research outputs. It can systematically guide and empower researchers by facilitating a deeper understanding of the steps required to meet research data management best practices and research goals while ensuring compliance with funder requirements. ROMPi recognises the fundamental importance of Data Stewardship within research organisations, promoting institutional strategy and governance development. By aligning with existing project management practices, ROMPi empowers researchers to engage in comprehensive research output management, thus enhancing transparency in scientific credibility and impact assessment. This approach focuses on the project workflow and reframes the DMP questionnaire in the research output lifecycle at a deliverable level.

Our proposed ROMPi approach represents a proactive response to the limitations of traditional DMPs. It offers a comprehensive strategy that integrates seamlessly with project management practices, addresses research data governance and stewardship issues, and contributes to the broader goals of open science.