About methodologies for user-centered design of research data services
Creators: name: Rydving, Karin Cecilia
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Session 9: Trusted partners in research data support
Lightning talk

description: In September 2020, the University of Bergen (UiB) adopted a policy for Open Science. The University of Bergen Library has been assigned responsibility for following up open access to research data, in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Department and the IT Department. A cross-departmental working group has been set up with a mandate to plan and implement the following main themes based on the follow-up points in UiB’s policy: Establishment of a joint service for guidance and training within making available and archiving research data at UiB. Tasks related to digital solutions for making research data available and archiving. In order to approach the work with research data, the working group has received support from UiB’s Service Development Project in collaboration with AFF, which is part of the Norwegian School of Management’s research environment. The UiB Service Development Project has a user-friendly and exploratory approach to the tasks that are to be solved and will challenge working methods and practice, and contribute to future-oriented and innovative services to ensure good support for the university’s primary tasks. The contribution presents methodologies from UiB Service Development that the working group has used and the experience of these. Furthermore, the contribution reflects on how the methodologies develop the library’s competence and role at its own institution. Examples of methodologies are Start Smart and Google Design sprint. Start Smart has been developed by researchers at the Norwegian School of Management and is a structured and time-limited method for starting up in teams and groups. During a facilitated workshop, the participants work actively to clarify ambitions and goals, competence and resources, roles and functions as well as the form of work for the group as a whole. The working group for research data has also carried out a seminar and used elements from the Google Design Sprint. For example insight interviews with researchers, developing personas, stakeholder analysis and Cover Story Vision. The sprint methodology’s various roles as participants, experts, decision-makers facilitate the inclusion and anchoring of the process. The working group’s experience is that the methodologies create unity and enthusiasm both within the group and across UiB. The methods help to highlight and complement each other’s expertise. The procedure strengthens user involvement and provides new insights. The methodologies also require the active participation of the participants in the various roles. The need for cooperation between different departments to develop good services within the institution is successfully highlighted. The working group notes that the methodologies used have effectively managed to create consensus on a draft for an action plan for the next three years, that is linked to specific tasks with roles and responsibilities. We have established a user-centered focus and will continue on this way. The methodologies contribute to achieving good quality in a short time in the work with service development within Open Science.