A Digital Curate's Egg: A Risk Management Approach to Enhancing Data Management Practices

This article provides a case study of work performed at King's College London to survey information management practices, policies, and procedures applied by data creators and managers within three research units and three business units, and to determine the risk factors that may limit access and use of their digital assets over time. The assessment framework adopted to assess practices brings together components of the Data Asset Framework to analyze ad hoc data handling processes performed within departments, and combines it with the system-level Digital Repository Audit Methodology Based on Risk Assessment evaluation framework to identify the potential risks that may occur and the consequences to the institution or individual unless action is taken. It was found that data management activities within the academic units are comparable to a curate's egg, containing many actions performed in conformance to best practice, but also including poorly considered approaches that have the potential to restrict access and use of digital information over time. To address the identified risk factors, a holistic, multi-tiered approach should be adopted through the development of an institution-level management infrastructure and policy framework, supported by ongoing training and advice for staff directly working with data.