The Research Infrastructure Self-Evaluation framework Jonathan Rans, DCC Research Data Network

1. The Research Infrastructure Self-
Evaluation framework (RISE)
Jonathan Rans
Digital Curation Centre, Edinburgh
J.Rans@ed.ac.uk
Twitter: @JNRans
RDM service development using RISE, 27 June 2017, Jisc RDN, York

2. What will we cover?
1. Background to RISE
2. The issues that RISE aims to address
3. Developing the framework
4. Trying RISE out
5. Lessons learned

3. Previous support for RDM services
2010-2015 – DCC Institutional Engagements
• Worked with ca. 50 UK Universities
• Deeply embedded support
• Resource intensive
Development of RDM support tools

4. RDM is a shared endeavour
RDM
servicesLibrary
Research
Office
IT
Academics
Ethics
Business
Office
Faculty
Support
Service
Managers
Infrastructure
Managers
Administrators

5. Issues we aimed to address
• Facilitate communication between stakeholders
• Get a broad range of input into each service
element
• Place service elements within the big picture
• Foster a shared understanding of service
development
• Ensure all RDM service elements are addressed
• Avoid getting mired in detail
• Recognise the impact of institutional context
• Confidence that services meet RCUK requirements

6. RISE model
• Provide a framework to guide discussion
• Ability to benchmark current and future service
provision to guide strategy development
• Define a baseline level of service but
• Be relevant regardless of institutional context
We aimed to develop a flexible, practical tool which could
be used independently

7. Identifying common elements
CC-BY2.0 Arne HendriksCC0 Alexas_Fotos

8. DCC service model

9. Service elements into capability areas
Active data
management
• Scalability and
synchronisation
• Collaboration support
• Security management
21 capabilities across ten RDM service elements

10. Service value levels – our approach
Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

11. Statements describe service levels
Security management
Level One Level Two Level Three
The service provides
authenticated access to
storage that is protected from
unauthorised data access, and
researchers are made aware of
procedures for data protection
and de-identification.
The service
provides tools/environments
that enable researchers to de-
identify, encrypt or control
access to data as required.
The service provides
researchers from across the
institution with access to ISO
27001/2 or equivalently
accredited facilities for
analysis of shared sensitive
data.

12. Using RISE
Consider each service element individually
Assess your current capability
Define your target capability
Identify barriers and opportunities
OUTPUTS
• Reassurance that compliance has been achieved
• Gap analysis
• Contributes to service development strategy
• Contributes to business case
• Fostering links between support departments

13. Field-testing RISE
• Validate the approach
• Ensure the descriptions were clear
• Apply the framework in different contexts
• Use the tool to feed in to different outputs
We used the tool with 16 UK universities

14. Test subjects
Edinburgh – RDM manager
Stirling – Intensive, semi-structured interviews
Cranfield – Small workshop
Northumbria – Small, focused workshop
Then a final workshop with 12 universities to validate the
final approach.
• Aimed for a spread of sizes, specialisation and
geographical spread
• Brunel, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, Glasgow School of
Art, Hull, London South Bank, Newcastle, SOAS,
Strathclyde, Surrey and Sussex.

15. Lessons learned
• Have a fixed goal communicated to all participants
• Allow sufficient time to work through RISE
• It will take ½ day to work through with up to six
people
• Participants should work through the framework
individually before discussing collectively
• Capture discussion – contextual information is
important

16. Future directions
• DCC is using RISE in training and consultancy
• We are developing competency models to connect
skills development with service capabilities through
EOSC
• We have a draft model for repository development
capabilities we are connecting with RISE (ReCAP)
Image: CC0, Ken Kistler

17. Many thanks to for supporting
the development of RISE
DCC introduction to RISE:
http://www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/how-
guides/RISE
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