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Phase: Examine requirements (phase 2)

%%{init: { }}%% flowchart LR; %% General diagram structure initiation_annotation@{ shape: brace-r } -.- start@{ shape: sm-circ } === phase_1 edge__phase_1_process@==> phase_2 edge__phase_2_process@==> phase_3 edge__phase_3_process@==> phase_4 edge__phase_4_process@==> finish@{ shape: framed-circle }-.- outcome_annotation@{ shape: brace } subgraph process["Common FAIRification Process"] phase_1 phase_2 phase_3 phase_4 end %% Labels initiation_annotation@{ label: "FAIR compliance challenges &  use cases" } phase_1("`Define goals`") click phase_1 href "/interoperability_2024-26/phase_1" "Go to Define goals" class phase_1 phase_1 phase_2("`Examine requirements`") click phase_2 href "/interoperability_2024-26/phase_2" "Go to Examine requirements" class phase_2 phase_2 class phase_2 highlight phase_3("`Design & implement`") click phase_3 href "/interoperability_2024-26/phase_3" "Go to Design & implement" class phase_3 phase_3 phase_4("`Review & report`") click phase_4 href "/interoperability_2024-26/phase_4" "Go to Review & report" class phase_4 phase_4 outcome_annotation@{ label: "Uses and research  impact realised by  FAIR implementation" }

Assess the current state of the activity against the FAIRification goal, including available tools, software, expertise, budget, and time constraints. This phase ensures that the goals and the capabilities, resources and skills needed to complete the FAIRification activity are fully understood before the technical work begins.

Research Object Requirements
Identify indicators and associated targets that specify what is needed to curate the research object to fulfil the FAIRification Goal. For example, goals relating to data hosting improvements cannot be fulfilled if the data is unavailable or inaccessible, or if project partners have not agreed on appropriate licensing and data-use conditions.

FAIRification Capabilities & Resources
Given the research object requirements, identify and allocate the capabilities and resources needed to complete the agreed FAIRification work. These may include personnel with relevant skills and expertise, access to the research objects and technical environments, tools and infrastructure, and sufficient time and budget. In this phase, you can optionally use the Template to identify relevant actions, capabilities and resources needed to execute the FAIRification activity.

FAIRification Gaps to address (Backlog)
Compare the current state with the projected state after FAIRification and identify the gaps to be addressed. This may include gaps relating to the indicators and targets, the capabilities and resources needed to complete the FAIRification, and other financial, technical, legal or organisational constraints. Together, these form the FAIRification roadmap and backlog for the practical work.

Assessment approach
Select an assessment approach that can establish the current state and later determine whether the projected state has been reached. The approach may combine tool-based assessment with expert or user evaluation, but should focus on indicators relevant to the FAIRification Goal and record sufficient evidence to support comparison before and after implementation.

Practical and important considerations
Consider the financial costs and expected benefits; the available technical infrastructure, tools and methodologies; legal requirements relating to rights, access and reuse; and organisational requirements such as responsibilities, training and support. These considerations help determine what is feasible, what is within the team’s control or influence, and which gaps depend on other people, organisations or services.

Phase overview

%%{init: { }}%% flowchart LR; %% General diagram structure phase_1_outputs@{ shape: doc } phase_1_outputs__start@{ shape: sm-circ } phase_2@{ shape: rounded } phase_2__finish@{ shape: framed-circle } phase_2_outputs@{ shape: doc } phase_1_outputs edge__phase_1_outputs@-.- phase_1_outputs__start edge__phase_1_outputs__phase@==> phase_2 edge__phase_2__phase@==> phase_2__finish phase_2__finish -.- phase_2_outputs %% Phase diagram flow element definitions %% Process inputs phase_1_outputs@{ shape: doc, label: "FAIRification goals"} phase_2_outputs@{ shape: doc, label: "FAIRification roadmap"} inputs_annotation@{ shape: brace-r, label: "Targeted assets Intended usability Broader impact" } -.- phase_1_outputs phase_2_outputs -.- outputs_annotation@{ shape: brace, label: "Target requirements Capabilities & resources FAIRification backlog" } phase_2@{ label: "Examine requirements" }

Process elements

Postconditions: Outputs ready for Design & implement, Review & report
  1. Requirements, gaps to be addressed and assessment approaches agreed and documented.
  2. Access to hostig environments and/or research assets with any necessary permissions or agreements secured.
  3. Implementation team, capabilities and resources allocated to start design & implementation.
Inputs: FAIRification goals
FAIRification goals: Community use case, FAIR compliance challenge or any idea that involves FAIRification.
  • this → Examine requirements: Used to determine target state characteristics, requirements and priorities
Outputs: FAIRification roadmap
FAIRification roadmap: Current and projected states, requirements and gaps.
  • Examine requirements → this: Outputs
  • this → Design & implement: Used to inform scope, initial backlog and implementation design decisions
  • this → Review & report: Used as basis for high-level post-implementation assessment
Flowchart: Assess the current state of the activity against the FAIRification goal, including available tools, software, expertise, budget, and time constraints.
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Resources

1 ELIXIR Stories items
5 FAIR Metroline items
2 FAIR Cookbook items
2 RDMkit items