Why develop a Data Management Plan?

A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a document in which a research team describes what will happen to their collected data during and after their research. It's most commonly a consideration in scientific research, as it is a requirement of many grant applications, but should be a part of planning for any research that generates data.

Beyond the obvious benefits associated with grant funding, DMP help to clearly delineate the responsibilities of research team members regarding data. A DMP also means data is more likely to be discoverable, re-usable, and citable by other researchers.