Organizing Data Management

https://housecompany.net/virtual-data-room-for-ma-procedures/

Data management is about organizing research materials and files in a way that makes it easy for them to be found and understood. This involves arranging and labeling files to make them easy to find as well as ensuring that the files and materials that are linked are connected in a meaningful manner, and ensuring that metadata and descriptions are clearly linked to and are associated with the files.

Whether the files are being stored in a folder hierarchy or as individual files it is essential to consider the way they will be organized and labeled. Choosing a consistent file naming system can ensure that all documents and data are easily identifiable at a later date and it is worth noting that many disciplines have their own recommendations for this. A README or short text file can be added to the folder.

In addition to facilitating access to files and data, good data organization can also be a useful tool to ensure that research is reproducible, and it is recommended to work out both the folder hierarchy and the naming conventions before the beginning of each project. These practices should be documented and shared with colleagues and can be included in the documentation required for new members of research teams.

A good data governance system can save a company money over the long term by enhancing transparency and eliminating the amount of waste. Data errors can be costly to organizations. It is estimated that incomplete or inaccurate data costs US companies between 15 and 25% of their annual revenue. Adopting dependable software that assists in the creation of catalogs, archiving, and the management of data will help to reduce these problems.