Journal on Data Semantics I

Despite numerous frameworks and models proposed in the literature, Information Systems (IS) assessment still remains elusive. In addition, little agreement exists on the contribution of the IS function within an organization and on how IS is related to the other organizational dimensions. Frameworks that show the relationship between IS and the organization are in the developmental stage and this work proposes a more comprehensive framework to assist in better understanding the relationship between IS and organizational quality. This research examines two popular IS quality assessment frameworks - Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) and Information Systems Assessment (ISA) - and suggests a new framework, IS-MBNQA. This work integrates these two IS quality assessment frameworks into a single comprehensive model that provides a holistic view on how IS quality is interrelated to organizational quality. The existing two IS assessment frameworks attempted to measure IS quality at different levels within an organization. The MBNQA model is the most comprehensive quality framework because it takes an organization wide perspective. On the other hand, ISA employs an IS specific perspective and reflects the relationships of eight major IS success dimensions. ISA is a modified version of DeLone & McLean's model with the inclusion of a success factor for Service Quality. For this study, survey instruments are developed from the MBNQA and ISA frameworks and they are consolidated to allow testing of the single IS-MBNQA framework. Exploratory factor analysis is performed for instrument refinement and confirmatory factor analysis for validity of the models. The instruments developed in this work are utilized as a foundation for identifying the relationships among the dimensions within and between each model. A major contribution of this work is the validation of the 2000 MBNQA model and the extension of existing models/frameworks to better explain the IS contribution to an organization.

In the Web Engineering area, many methods and frameworks to support Web Information Systems (WISs) development have already been proposed. Particularly, the use of frameworks and container-based architectures is state-of-the-practice. In this chapter, we present a method for designing frameworkbased WISs called FrameWeb, which defines a standard architecture for framework-based WISs and a modeling language that extends UML to build diagrams that specifically depict framework-related components. Considering that the Semantic Web has been gaining momentum in the last few years, we also propose an extension to FrameWeb, called S-FrameWeb, that aims to support the development of Semantic WISs.

This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of data quality terminology, revealing a significant lack of standardisation in the field. The goal of this work was to conduct a comparative analysis of data quality terminology across different domains and structure it into a hierarchical data model. We propose a novel approach for aggregating disparate data quality terms used to describe the multiple facets of data quality under common umbrella terms with a focus on the ISO 25012 standard. We introduce four additional data quality dimensions: governance, usefulness, quantity, and semantics. These dimensions enhance specificity, complementing the framework established by the ISO 25012 standard, as well as contribute to a broad understanding of data quality aspects. The ISO 25012 standard, a general standard for managing the data quality in information systems, offers a foundation for the development of our proposed Data Quality Data Model. This is due to the prevalent nature of digital systems across a multitude of domains. In contrast, frameworks such as ALCOA+, which were originally developed for specific regulated industries, can be applied more broadly but may not always be generalisable. Ultimately, the model we propose aggregates and classifies data quality terminology, facilitating seamless communication of the data quality between different domains when collaboration is required to tackle cross-domain projects or challenges. By establishing this hierarchical model, we aim to improve understanding and implementation of data quality practices, thereby addressing critical issues in various domains.

Web information systems are characterized by the presentation of a large amount of data to a wide audience, the quality of which can be very heterogeneous. Every organization and individual can create a web site and load every kind of information without any control on its quality, and sometimes with a malicious intent. The information systems on the web need to publish information in the shortest possible time after it is available from information sources. The information has to be checked with regard to its accuracy, currency, and trustworthiness of its sources using the data quality measure. The Quality of the Data presented by the web portals has to be analyzed. Intrinsic and representational categories of data quality are very important in the web portal to give the data in most effective manner. The main aim of this paper is to quantify the Data qualities through their dimensions. This paper has made a study about the attributes of quality representation of data and a case study about how effective, the data representation has been made with “Education” column of `The Hindu' daily news paper web portal (online).

Due to the multiplicity of administration in urban management in Iran and with the aim of feasibility of implementing the integrated urban management, this study evaluates the impact of information system (IS) quality and IS integration on performance of Tabriz metropolitan municipality, Iran, as the trustee of urban affairs. The quantitative method was applied using survey questionnaires that have been conducted based on the relevant literature. SPSS software was used to perform regression and covariance analyses to analyze the collected data (80 valid responses) as well as the relationships among the components of the conceptual research model. The quantitative data for this research was limited to the Tabriz municipality's ICT experts (all experts of Statistics and Information Technology organization). The results prove positive relationships among IS quality, IS integration and the organizational performance. Additionally, the findings reveal that IS integration fully mediates the relationship between IS quality toward organizational performance. The originality of this study lies in examining the integrated urban management in Iran from the perspective of urban information infrastructures (urban information systems) for the first time.

In this paper, we present an analysis of the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of web based information systems (web IS). Our goals are to extend recent theorizing about information systems (IS) maintenance and enhancement, and offer a context-rich theoretical characterization of web IS maintenance and enhancement developed from field data. To achieve these goals, we introduce, describe, and apply recent systems analysis theorizing that examines post implementation maintenance and enhancement activity and blurs the traditional information systems development (ISD) boundaries between systems development and systems maintenance. We then apply the systems development theorizing to four case sites. Our subsequent discussion and analysis allows us to both extend this theorizing based on our field data and present a context-rich theoretical characterization of web IS management.KeywordsInformation SystemManage Information SystemBusiness GroupReactive EmergenceCase SiteThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

It is getting harder to extract useful information from the enormous amount of data that is being collected in the medical information systems or eHealth systems due to the distributed and very complex nature of this data. Semantic web technologies, which are mainly developed for use in web information systems, are providing efficient solutions for the management of complex and distributed data, and it can be used in the medical information systems as well. Semantic web offers solutions in encoding data meaningfully, and consequently data can be searched efficiently, and integrated easily. In this paper we briefly describe semantic web technologies and present current work on the use of semantic web in medical information systems.

Recently, mashups have emerged as an important class of Web 2.0 collaborative applications. Mashups can be conceived as personalized Web services which aggregate and manipulate data from multiple, geographically-distributed Web sources. Mashups, while enhancing personalization, bring up new scalability and performance challenges. The fact that most existing mashup platforms are centralized further exacerbates the scalability challenges. Towards addressing these challenges, in this paper, we present the design, implementation, and evaluation of CoMaP – a cooperative information system for mashup execution. The design of CoMaP is characterized by a scalable architecture with multiple cooperative nodes distributed across the Internet and possibly multiple controllers which plan and coordinate mashup execution. In our architecture, an individual mashup can be executed at several collaborative nodes with each node executing part of the mashup. CoMaP includes a unique mashup deployment scheme that decides which nodes would be involved in executing an individual mashup and what operators they would host. Also, CoMaP continuously adapts to overlay dynamics and to user actions such as creation of new mashups or deletion of existing ones. Furthermore, CoMaP possesses failure resiliency feature which is necessary for cooperative information systems. Our experimental study indicates that the proposed techniques yield improved system performance.Keywordscooperative information systemsWeb 2.0mashupcollaboration

nnn As organisational information systems increase in complexity and their use become more pervasive, the quality of the data in these systems becomes progressively more critical. Management uses stored data as inputs to their decision making processes to the organisation. Erroneous data may lead to decisions and actions that are costly and sometimes disastrous. This paper investigates the types of errors that exist in operational databases and develops an explanatory model of the data quality of a business information system. In particular, the research investigates the influence of (1) difficulty in recognising real-world events, (2) difficulty in measuring errors, and users' perception on factors that contribute to improving data quality. These factors are (1) intuitiveness of screen design, (2) intuitiveness of data values, (3) preciseness of controls, (4) importance of data accuracy to job duty, and (5) importance of organisational ties.nnn Findings indicate a negative association of data quality in relation to difficulty in recognising real-world events and difficulty in measuring errors. The results also show that users who perceive controls as being more precise will perceive the database as containing higher quality data. Similarly, users who perceive organisational ties as being important will also perceive higher data quality. Surprisingly, users who perceived data values as being more intuitive and view data accuracy as being important to job duty will perceive the database as containing lower quality data. The research failed to find any significant relationship between users' perception on screen design and data quality.

Repositories for co-operative information systems

Business processes and information systems mutually affect each other in non-trivial ways. Frequently, the business process design and the information system design are not well aligned. This means that business processes are designed without taking the information system impact into account, and vice versa. Missing alignment at design time often results in quality problems at runtime, such as large response times of information systems, large process execution times, overloaded information systems or interrupted processes. Aligning business process quality and information system quality at design time requires to
\nsolve the following problems (P). Business process quality and information system quality have to be characterized. P1: In contrast to information system quality, which is specified in the ISO/IEC 9126 standard, for example, there is no common and comprehensive understanding of business process quality. P2: Beyond that, current business process
\nmodeling notations do not aim to represent quality aspects. The impact of a business process on the quality of an information system, and vice versa, is unknown at design
\ntime. P3: The mutual impact between business processes and information systems must be predicted at design time.
\nIn this thesis, the Business Process Quality Reference-Model (BPQRM), a quality model for business processes, is introduced. The model allows for a comprehensive characterization of business process quality (P1). The BPQRM is applied successfully in a case study to
\nidentify potential for process quality improvement in practice. Based on the BPQRM an existing process modeling notation is extended by model elements to represent quality
\naspects (P2). Simulation is a powerful means to predict the impact of a business process on the quality of an information system, and vice versa, at design time. This thesis proposes two simulation approaches to predict the mutual impact between business processes and information systems, in terms of performance (P3). The approach Business
\nIT Impact Simulation (BIIS) defines interfaces between the business process simulation and the information system simulation. Performance-relevant information is exchanged
\nvia the interfaces between both simulations. Using business process simulation and information system simulation in isolation, workload burstiness is not adequately reflected.
\nThis is especially true for occasional, volatile peak loads. Workload burstiness can significantly affect the performance of business processes and information systems. The approach Integrated Business IT Impact Simulation (IntBIIS) for the integration of business processes and information systems in a single simulation allows for reflecting workload burstiness correctly. The simulation approaches support the comparison of design alternatives and the verification of a certain design against requirements. A case study confirms the feasibility in practice and the acceptance from practitioners’ point of
\nview.

This paper presents the results from an analysis of the tasks of information professionals pertaining to Web information systems (WIS). This research was based on information professionals working in seven departments of the Canadian federal government. This study offers a better understanding of the information professionals' role in WIS, in the context of an organization heading toward becoming “digital”. A qualitative content analysis was completed on the basis of 32 interviews conducted with information professionals involved in WIS. The results indicate that information professionals are performing tasks that can be grouped in four categories–content, technology, users, graphic interface. The predominant tasks are those related to the content, although the technological tasks and the WIS management task are also very present. Three factors were identified that have an impact on the involvement of information professionals in WIS: (1) the types of WIS, (2) the organizational levels represented by WIS, and (3) the types of positions filled by the information professionals.

The use of Information Systems (IS) of acceptable quality has been viewed to be vital for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations. Many SMEs in developing countries are beginning to embrace the use of IS to help improve their competitiveness. This venture, however, has not yielded the much anticipated benefits for many of these SMEs. For this reason, a number SMEs in developing countries have ended up dissatisfied with their IS investments. A considerable percentage IS solutions used within the SMEs in developing countries are inefficient and ineffective in helping meet the unique needs of the SMEs. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study into the quality of IS used within SMEs in Eldoret town, situated in Kenya. The study employs a qualitative research methodology with multiple case studies of seven SMEs. The results of the study indicate that the SMEs that participated in the study use IS solutions that were of unacceptable quality. The study further identifies factors that are responsible for this poor quality of IS and recommends actions that can be taken to improve the quality of IS within the SMEs.

Business organizations are still struggling to improve the quality of information systems (IS) after many research efforts and years of accumulated experience in delivering them. The IS community is not short on prescriptions for improving quality; however the utterances are somewhat cacophonous as proponents of quality-enhancing approaches hyperbolize claims of their efficacy and/or denigrate older approaches, often ignoring the importance of context. In this chapter we undertake an extensive review of the IS quality literature to balance the many perspectives of stakeholders in this heterogeneous community with the necessarily varied prescriptions for producing high-quality systems. We develop an IS quality model, which distills determinants of IS product quality into effects attributable to people, processes, and practices and denote that IS success results from the combination of discernible IS quality and stakeholders’ perceptions of IS quality. This chapter serves as a general introduction to the detailed analyses of topics that follow in subsequent chapters but also provides insights that are not covered elsewhere in the book.

About Our Authors