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Short description 

In this step, the aim is to setup a workplan for your FAIRification process. This workplan is a specific design an implementation plan customised to your project, composed of template elements required to achieve your intended FAIRification goals [FAIRInAction]. For many steps in the workplan, solutions may already exist, for example in the form of recipes as provided by the FAIR Cookbook [FAIRCookbook]. 

One approach is to have multiple iterative FAIRification cycles, with each cycle focussing on one FAIRification objective. Each cycle can have its own workplan, guiding the implementation [FAIRInAction].  

Short description

Building on the pre-FAIR assessment, this step defines a structured approach to addressing identified gaps in FAIR compliance. It transforms assessment insights into an actionable solution plan, ensuring technical, organisational, and procedural aspects are considered. It helps your team allocate resources efficiently and prepare for upcoming challenges. The outcome is a clear roadmap that enhances data management and prepares for improved FAIRification.

Why is this step important 

The pre-FAIR assessment identifies key gaps and challenges in FAIR compliance, such as incomplete metadata, lack of a data storage strategy, or missing documentation practices. If left unaddressed, these issues can hinder data quality, interoperability, and reuse. This step ensures that assessment insights are systematically translated into a structured plan, preventing fragmented and ineffective FAIRification efforts. A well-defined solution plan helps to:

• provide a structured approach to tackling complex data issues and aligning stakeholders on a shared strategy;

• optimise the use of resources and define success criteria to track progress;

• enhance data quality, ensuring better insights, improved compliance with FAIR principles, and greater efficiency in research processes.

How to 

Step 1 - Identify and prioritise key requirements

Using the pre-FAIR assessment findings, identify and rank key issues based on urgency, impact, and feasibility. Prioritisation ensures that critical gaps, such as incomplete metadata, lack of persistent identifiers, or missing documentation, are addressed first.

Example: If metadata incompleteness is blocking data reuse, improving metadata standards should take precedence over less critical issues.

Step 2 - Define clear objectives

For each prioritised issue, define SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). These objectives will guide implementation and measure progress.

Example: By [date], update metadata for 90% of datasets to comply with [standard], ensuring all required fields are completed.

Step 3 - Assess feasibility and identify constraints

Evaluate the current infrastructure, policies, and governance environment. Identify constraints such as legal barriers, technical limitations, or resource availability. Develop mitigation strategies to address them.

Example: If data governance policies prevent external repository use, consider alternative institutional solutions.

Step 4 - Select appropriate tools and methodologies

Choose tools, frameworks, and methodologies that best address identified gaps. Resources such as FAIRsharing and FAIR Implementation Profiles (FIPs) ensure alignment with best practices.

Examples:

• Metadata improvement: Use controlled vocabularies and standards.

• Persistent identifiers: Implement DOIs or Handles for datasets.

Step 5 - Engage stakeholders and align objectives

Involve key stakeholders from the pre-FAIR assessment phase, including data stewards, domain experts, and IT teams. Ensure alignment between technical and organisational priorities to create a feasible solution plan.

Tip: Regular check-ins help maintain engagement and prevent misalignment.

Step 6 - Develop a structured FAIRification roadmap

Create an implementation roadmap outlining key actions, responsibilities, timelines, and resources. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and allow for iterative adjustments.

Step 7 - Conduct risk assessment and refine the plan

Identify potential risks (e.g., delays, lack of resources) and define mitigation strategies. Review the solution plan with stakeholders and refine it based on feedback.

Example: Risk: Limited personnel availability. Mitigation: Cross-train team members to ensure continuity.

Expertise requirements for this step 

Designing a solution plan is typically a collaborative effort by a range of experts, as described in Metroline Step: Build the Team.

• FAIR experts.Provide guidance on best practices, standards, and methodologies.

• Domain experts. Define data semantics, quality standards, and use cases.

• Data stewards. Ensure data and metadata comply with FAIR principles.

• IT specialists. Support infrastructure needs, interoperability, and tool integration.

• Project managers. Oversee planning, stakeholder coordination, and implementation tracking.

Practical examples from the community 

This section should show the step applied in a real project. Links to demonstrator projects. 

Training

• FAIRification Tools and Templates – ELIXIR-UK Fellowship

• FAIRification Workflow – FAIR Toolkit

• FAIR Implementation Profile

Suggestions

This page is under construction. Learn more about the contributors here and explore the development process here. If you have any suggestions, visit our How to contribute page to get in touch.

When released, the Editorial board will change this to:

This page has been written and reviewed by field experts through a rigorous process and has reached the “released” status. Learn more about the contributors here and explore the development process here. If you have any suggestions, visit our How to contribute page to get in touch.

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[FAIRInAction] 

During the design stage, concrete steps from the FAIRification template are identified to achieve the FAIRification goal identified for this cycle. These steps form the FAIRification workplan to be realised during the implementation stage. 

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The FAIRification Workplan is a specific design and implementation plan customised to an individual project by selecting the template elements required to achieve the intended FAIRification goals according to the project examination. An example of a FAIRification workplan is shown in Supplementary Figure 1.  For many of the steps in the workplan, solutions may already exist, in the shape of FAIR Cookbook 15,16 recipes (https://faircookbook.elixir-europe.org ), which serve as a guide.  Supplementary Table 2 provides links to the recipes that address specific implementation considerations. Once the workplan has been designed, it is put into action within the agreed cycle time frame. 

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In this step

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By completing this step you will have one or more workplans with the steps , the aim is to setup a workplan for your FAIRification process. This workplan is a specific design an implementation plan customised to your project, composed of template elements required to achieve your intended FAIRification goals [FAIRInAction]. For many steps in the workplan, solutions may already exist, for example in the form of recipes as provided by the FAIR Cookbook [FAIRCookbook]. 

One approach is to have multiple iterative FAIRification cycles, with each cycle focussing on one FAIRification objective. Each cycle can have its own workplan, guiding the implementation [FAIRInAction].  

How to 

[Sander]

Perhaps: https://rdmkit.elixir-europe.org/dm_coordination

This may also describe a framework. Still need to check. https://www.go-fair.org/how-to-go-fair/

It feels like the FAIRInAction and its FAIR cookbook page is the most relevant. Should we somehow translate what they did to how that would apply to the Metroline? Expand their model with the steps they don’t have? If we would expand their model, would we have to justify these other steps and publish that?

...

Types of Project Management Methodologies: contains an overview of various major methodologies within the world of project management using the analogy of a kitchen.

The How to section should:

• be split into easy to follow steps;

  • Step 1 - Title of the step

  • Step 2 - Title of the step

  • etc.

• help the reader to complete the step;

• aspire to be readable for everyone, but, depending on the topic, may require specialised knowledge;

• be a general, widely applicable approach;

• if possible / applicable, add (links to) the solution necessary for onboarding in the Health-RI National Catalogue;

• aim to be practical and simple, while keeping in mind: if I would come to this page looking for a solution to this problem, would this How-to actually help me solve this problem;

• contain references to solutions such as those provided by FAIR Cookbook, RMDkit, Turing way and FAIR Sharing;

• contain custom recipes/best-practices written by/together with experts from the field if necessary.

Expertise requirements for this step 

Describes the expertise that may be necessary for this step. Should be based on the expertise described in the Metroline: Build the team step.

Practical examples from the community 

This section should show the step applied in a real project. Links to demonstrator projects. 

Training

Relevant training will be added soon.

Suggestions

This page is under construction. Learn more about the contributors here and explore the development process here. If you have any suggestions, visit our How to contribute page to get in touch.