Adaptive data governance for research data management

The field of research data management librarianship has grown significantly in past years but continues to face the challenges of knowledge gaps, frequent changes to policy and guidance, and the complexity and context that comes from data that varies both in type and format. As a research data librarian, I face these issues on a daily basis and have adopted an adaptive approach that combines multiple styles to balance the individual needs of researchers while complying with policies and best practices. This approach was adopted from my past experience in data governance at a corporation in which we faced the same core challenges. Incorporating the four styles of data governance as laid out by Gartner provides a framework for librarians and data governance specialists alike to prioritize competing needs and guide researchers through the data lifecycle. The benefits of this approach include increased flexibility in data management practices, continuous improvement of services and resources, efficiency, and empowerment of researchers and related stakeholders.