Which element is part of a minimal data management plan?

• A. Travel itinerary
• B. Data collection, storage, backup, preservation, and sharing policies
• C. Marketing plan
• D. Employee training schedule

Answer: (B)

A minimal data management plan centers on how data are handled throughout their life cycle. It should specify how data are collected, where they will be stored, how backups are performed, how data will be preserved for long-term access, and how data will be shared or made available. This element fits the purpose exactly because it directly describes the data lifecycle and access policies that ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and compliance.

The other items don’t address data handling at all: a travel itinerary is about logistics for travel, a marketing plan focuses on market strategy, and an employee training schedule concerns personnel development.