Tackling Data Archival and Management Using A Centralized System

This presentation provides an overview and retrospective analysis of a centralized software platform developed to manage archival and operational workflows at the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. Reflecting upon more than seven years of active use and continuous development, we examine the motivations behind building a unified system, the tradeoffs involved in its design, and the tangible outcomes of those decisions. Through selected examples, we highlight how the platform has addressed real archival and data management challenges, improved internal processes, and supported more data-driven operational decision-making. The talk concludes with a brief overview of some lessons learned, completed objectives, and future development plans, with an emphasis on insights applicable to other data archives and research data services organizations.