Collaboration or Competition? Responses to Research Data Management in UK Higher Education by Librarians, IT Professionals, and Research Administrators

Purpose. Effective Research Data Management (RDM) has become an increasing concern in UK universities as a result of being mandated by research funders. The study uncovered how librarians, IT staff and research administrators viewed support of RDM and how they thought roles would be distributed amongst them. It used Abbott's theory of the professions as a way of conceptualising the underlying dynamics. Methodology: Data was collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with staff in the Library, IT Services and Research Office of a research intensive university of middling size in Northern England. Findings: The different professional services viewed RDM differently. Broadly speaking, IT focussed on short term data storage; the research office on compliance and research quality; librarians on preservation and advocacy. The Library was the only department claiming a new jurisdiction in RDM. The other departments claimed to be short of resources to take on such a complex project. Some interviewees feared RDM might be a "poisoned chalice". Research implications: Abbott's (1988) concept of jurisdiction is a useful lens on how RDM services are emerging. Originality/value: The paper offers an early perspective on how support of RDM is being developed, from a theory of the professions perspective.publishedye