Time-Related Factors of Data Quality in Multichannel Information Systems

• Published in: Journal of management information systems Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 71 - 92
• Main Authors: CAPPIELLO, CINZIA, FRANCALANCI, CHIARA, PERNICI, BARBARA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.12.2003; M. E. Sharpe; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Architectural models; Architecture; Computer software; data accuracy; Data collection; data completeness; data currency; Data integration; Data integrity; Data quality; financial information systems; Financial institutions; Functional integration; Information storage and retrieval systems; Information systems; Management information systems; Mathematical completeness; Software; Special Section: Assuring Information Quality; Studies
• ISSN: 0742-1222; 1557-928X
• DOI: 10.1080/07421222.2003.11045769

Modern organizations offer services through multiple channels, such as branches, ATMs, telephones, and Internet sites, and are supported by multifunctional software architectures. Different functional modules share data, which are typically stored in multiple local databases. Functional modules are usually not integrated across channels, as channels are implemented at different times within independent software projects and are subject to varying requirements of availability and performance. This lack of channel and functional integration raises data quality problems that can impact the quality of the products and services of an organization. In particular, in complex systems in which data are managed in multiple databases, timeliness is critical. This paper focuses on time-related factors of data quality and provides a model that can help companies to evaluate data currency, accuracy, and completeness in software architectures with different degrees of integration across channels and functionalities. The model is validated through simulation based on empirical data on financial information systems. Results indicate how architectural choices on the degree of data integration have a varying impact on currency, accuracy, and completeness depending on the type of financial institution and on customer profiles.