Commonly referred to as a “lab manual” or “project organization protocol,” a research management document is used to outline expectations for your project team and to keep your project on track. In addition to increasing research efficiency, developing and sharing research and data management best practices for your team will help to foster a climate of diversity and inclusion by creating transparent work practices that provide equal footing for all team members to positively contribute to the research project.
Most people don’t have picture perfect memory, so even solo projects can benefit from creating a manual. Think of this document as a living “readme” file for your project. At the start of the project it will explain your intended practices; be sure to keep the document updated if you find that particular aspects of your plan require modification.