1. Creating an eResearch environment – Lessons learned
A-LIEP 2009, Tsukuba/Japan
March 2009
Ulla Tschida, Max-Planck Digital Library (MPDL)

2. eSciDoc Solution Strategy
Close and ongoing contacts to MPIs to identify and address specific needs (participation concept)‏
Collections/solutions with high relevance for research
Overall technical and conceptual enhancements in parallel
Initial focus: “Publication data”, “Image data”, “Text-Image”
User-focused working environments
Data reliability
Digital preservation / Long term archiving
Foster knowledge and know-how to address future requirements faster
re-use and extend existing components/services
Improve internal processes
requirements engineering
software development
communication internal/external
Management of expectations
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3. Phases of development  activities participation
Functional requirements, specifications
Abstract prototypes, scenarios
Formal use cases
=> Workshops, Discussions, Narrative Scenarios
Interface conception and design
Functional Prototypes
GUI Patterns, Components
=> Usability Workshops, Interviews
Technical Design and implementation
=> Prototype testing
Roll-out
=> Joint workshops, How-Tos, Manuals
=> „Mentors“, joint presentations
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4. Participation Concept in the Max-Planck Society
Aim
Keep development close to researcher needs
Agile and quick feedback/change request loops
Find local “multipliers” at institute
Target Groups
MPS institutes (scientists, Library, IT)
Involvement
Shaping release plans according to needs (Early Adopters)
Testing, feedback, evaluations (features, GUI)
First productive users
Organisation/Tools
Early Adopters/Partners (vital interest, commitment institute)
Pilot group (fast followers, library know-how)
Regular workshops, Usability interviews
CoLaboratory (wiki-based)
Blogs eg.
Mailinglists
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5. (Some) Lessons learned
Close to Science & Humanities
Early, committed user groups (Early Adopters, Pilots)
Find „Mentors“ and Advocates
Support a „learning“ environment within the project
Specialised solutions  generic components and concepts
Prepare for the unexpected
eResearch Development = organisational development
Workflow analysis, data analysis, policy development
Integration of central and local services
Support local librarian expertise, encourage building-up new knowledge and know-how (e.g. data curators)
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