Data management policy

Definition: a (research) data management policy is a directive providing language that encourages or requires researchers to handle their research data in such a way that they fulfill institutional, grant or other types of funding expectations.
Explanation: the National Science Foundation in the USA is one example of a funding organisation that has a data management policy in place requiring researchers to submit a data management plan as a stipulation to receive funding.
Reference: http://esciencelibrary.umassmed.edu/thesaurus/data-management-policy

Alternative definition 1: a (research) data management policy has the purpose to ensure that data produced or otherwise used through an institution’s research activities is registered, stored, made accessible for use and reuse as appropriate, managed over time and/or disposed of, according to legal, ethical, funder requirements and good practice.
Reference: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/ris/research_integrity/code_of_practice_and_policies/research_code_of_practice/datacollection_retention/research_data_mgt_policy/

Alternative definition 2: a (research) data management policy has the purpose to ensure that research data is stored, retained, made accessible for use and reuse, and/or disposed of, according to legal, statutory, ethical and funding bodies’ requirements.
Reference: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/research/research-data-management-policy.html