This work fulfills the need for a conceptual and technical framework to improve understanding of Information Quality (IQ) and Information Quality standards. The meaning and practical implementation of IQ are addressed, as it is relevant to any field where there is a need to handle data and issues such as accessibility, accuracy, completeness, currency, integrity, reliability, timeliness, usability, the role of metrics and so forth are all a part of Information Quality. In order to support the cross-fertilization of theory and practice, the latest research is presented in this book. The perspectives of experts from beyond the origins of IQ in computer science are included: library and information science practitioners and academics, philosophers of information, of engineering and technology, and of science are all contributors to this volume. The chapters in this volume are based on the work of a collaborative research project involving the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Google and led by Professor Luciano Floridi, University of Oxford. This work will be of interest to anyone handling data, including those from commercial, public, governmental and academic organizations. The expert editors’ contributions introduce issues of interest to scientists, database curators and philosophers, even though the issues may be disguised in the language and examples common to a different discipline.

How to apply data quality management techniques to marketing, sales, and other specific business units Author and information quality management expert Larry English returns with a sequel to his much-acclaimed book, Improving Data Warehouse and Business Information Quality. In this new book he takes a hands-on approach, showing how to apply the concepts outlined in the first book to specific business areas like marketing, sales, finance, and human resources. The book presents real-world scenarios so you can see how to meld data quality concepts to specific business areas such as supply chain management, product and service development, customer care, and others. Step-by-step instruction, practical techniques, and helpful templates from the author help you immediately apply best practices and start modeling your own quality initiatives. Maintaining the quality and accuracy of business data is crucial; database managers are in need of specific guidance for data quality management in all key business areas Information Quality Applied offers IT, database, and business managers step-by-step instruction in setting up methodical and effective procedures The book provides specifics if you have to manage data quality in marketing, sales, customer care, supply chain management, product and service management, human resources, or finance The author includes templates that readers can put to immedate use for modeling their own quality initiatives A Companion Web site provides templates, updates to the book, and links to related sites

Provides an important framework for data analysts in assessing the quality of data and its potential to provide meaningful insights through analysis Analytics and statistical analysis have become pervasive topics, mainly due to the growing availability of data and analytic tools. Technology, however, fails to deliver insights with added value if the quality of the information it generates is not assured. Information Quality (InfoQ) is a tool developed by the authors to assess the potential of a dataset to achieve a goal of interest, using data analysis. Whether the information quality of a dataset is sufficient is of practical importance at many stages of the data analytics journey, from the pre-data collection stage to the post-data collection and post-analysis stages. It is also critical to various stakeholders: data collection agencies, analysts, data scientists, and management. This book: Explains how to integrate the notions of goal, data, analysis and utility that are the main building blocks of data analysis within any domain. Presents a framework for integrating domain knowledge with data analysis. Provides a combination of both methodological and practical aspects of data analysis. Discusses issues surrounding the implementation and integration of InfoQ in both academic programmes and business / industrial projects. Showcases numerous case studies in a variety of application areas such as education, healthcare, official statistics, risk management and marketing surveys. Presents a review of software tools from the InfoQ perspective along with example datasets on an accompanying website. This book will be beneficial for researchers in academia and in industry, analysts, consultants, and agencies that collect and analyse data as well as undergraduate and postgraduate courses involving data analysis.

What makes information useful? This seemingly simple and yet intriguing and complicated question is discussed in this book. It examines ways in which the quality of information can be improved in knowledge-intensive processes (such as on-line communication, strategy, product development, or consulting). Based on existing information quality literature, the book proposes a conceptual framework to manage information quality for knowledge-based content. It presents four proven principles to apply the framework to a variety of information products. Five in-depth company case studies show how information quality can be managed systematically. The book uses frequent diagrams and tables, as well as diagnostic questions and summary boxes to make its content actionable.

Technologies such as the Internet and mobile commerce bring with them ubiquitous connectivity, real-time access, and overwhelming volumes of data and information. The growth of data warehouses and communication and information technologies has increased the need for high information quality management in organizations. Information Quality Management: Theory and Applications provides solutions to information quality problems becoming increasingly prevalent.Information Quality Management: Theory and Applications provides insights and support for professionals and researchers working in the field of information and knowledge management, information quality, practitioners and managers of manufacturing, and service industries concerned with the management of information.

This book provides a systematic and comparative description of the vast number of research issues related to the quality of data and information. It does so by delivering a sound, integrated and comprehensive overview of the state of the art and future development of data and information quality in databases and information systems. To this end, it presents an extensive description of the techniques that constitute the core of data and information quality research, including record linkage (also called object identification), data integration, error localization and correction, and examines the related techniques in a comprehensive and original methodological framework. Quality dimension definitions and adopted models are also analyzed in detail, and differences between the proposed solutions are highlighted and discussed. Furthermore, while systematically describing data and information quality as an autonomous research area, paradigms and influences deriving from other areas, such as probability theory, statistical data analysis, data mining, knowledge representation, and machine learning are also included. Last not least, the book also highlights very practical solutions, such as methodologies, benchmarks for the most effective techniques, case studies, and examples. The book has been written primarily for researchers in the fields of databases and information management or in natural sciences who are interested in investigating properties of data and information that have an impact on the quality of experiments, processes and on real life. The material presented is also sufficiently self-contained for masters or PhD-level courses, and it covers all the fundamentals and topics without the need for other textbooks. Data and information system administrators and practitioners, who deal with systems exposed to data-quality issues and as a result need a systematization of the field and practical methods in the area, will also benefit from the combination of concrete practical approaches with sound theoretical formalisms.

Entity Resolution and Information Quality presents topics and definitions, and clarifies confusing terminologies regarding entity resolution and information quality. It takes a very wide view of IQ, including its six-domain framework and the skills formed by the International Association for Information and Data Quality {IAIDQ). The book includes chapters that cover the principles of entity resolution and the principles of Information Quality, in addition to their concepts and terminology. It also discusses the Fellegi-Sunter theory of record linkage, the Stanford Entity Resolution Framework, and the Algebraic Model for Entity Resolution, which are the major theoretical models that support Entity Resolution. In relation to this, the book briefly discusses entity-based data integration (EBDI) and its model, which serve as an extension of the Algebraic Model for Entity Resolution. There is also an explanation of how the three commercial ER systems operate and a description of the non-commercial open-source system known as OYSTER. The book concludes by discussing trends in entity resolution research and practice. Students taking IT courses and IT professionals will find this book invaluable. - First authoritative reference explaining entity resolution and how to use it effectively - Provides practical system design advice to help you get a competitive advantage - Includes a companion site with synthetic customer data for applicatory exercises, and access to a Java-based Entity Resolution program.

Organizations today have access to vast stores of data that come in a wide variety of forms and may be stored in places ranging from file cabinets to databases, and from library shelves to the Internet. The enormous growth in the quantity of data, however, has brought with it growing problems with the quality of information, further complicated by the struggles many organizations are experiencing as they try to improve their systems for knowledge management and organizational memory. Failure to manage information properly, or inaccurate data, costs businesses billions of dollars each year. This volume presents cutting-edge research on information quality. Part I seeks to understand how data can be measured and evaluated for quality. Part II deals with the problem of ensuring quality while processing data into information a company can use. Part III presents case studies, while Part IV explores organizational issues related to information quality. Part V addresses issues in information quality education.

This is a sound textbook for Information Technology and MIS undergraduate students, and MBA graduate students and all professionals looking to grasp a fundamental understanding of information quality. The authors performed an extensive literature search to determine the Fundamental Topics of Data Quality in Information Systems. They reviewed these topics via a survey of data quality experts at the International Conference on Information Quality held at MIT. The concept of data quality is assuming increased importance. Poor data quality affects operational, tactical and strategic decision-making, and yet error rates of up to 70%, with 30% typical are found in practice (Redman). Data that is deficient leads to misinformed people, who in turn make bad decisions. Poor quality data impedes activities such as re-engineering business processes and implementing business strategies. Poor data quality has contributed to major disasters in the federal government, NASA, Information Systems, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and most busineses. The diverse uses of data and the increased sharing of data that has arisen as a result of the widespread introduction of data warehouses have exacerbated deficiencies with the quality of data (Ballou). In addition, up to half the cost of creating a data warehouse is attributable to poor data quality. The management of data quality so as to ensure the quality of information products is examined in Wang. The purpose of this book is to alert our IT-MIS-Business professionals to the pervasiveness and criticality of data quality problems. The secondary agenda is to begin to arm the students with approaches and the commitment to overcome these problems. The current authors have a combined list of over 200 published papers on data and information quality.

Information is currency. Recent studies show that data quality problems are costing businesses billions of dollars each year, with poor data linked to waste and inefficiency, damaged credibility among customers and suppliers, and an organizational inability to make sound decisions. In this important and timely new book, Danette McGilvray presents her "Ten Steps approach to information quality, a proven method for both understanding and creating information quality in the enterprise. Her trademarked approach—in which she has trained Fortune 500 clients and hundreds of workshop attendees—applies to all types of data and to all types of organizations.* Includes numerous templates, detailed examples, and practical advice for executing every step of the "Ten Steps approach.* Allows for quick reference with an easy-to-use format highlighting key concepts and definitions, important checkpoints, communication activities, and best practices.* A companion Web site includes links to numerous data quality resources, including many of the planning and information-gathering templates featured in the text, quick summaries of key ideas from the Ten Step methodology, and other tools and information available online.