Improving Data Warehouse and Business Information Quality: Methods for Reducing Costs and Increasing Profits

CHAPTER 6

Information Quality Assessment

“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions.”

–GRACE HOPPER (1906–1992), ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY

Measuring or assessing information quality is the process of inspecting business information to assure it meets the needs of the knowledge workers who depend on it.

In this chapter, I describe the objectives for measuring information quality along with guidelines and tips for how to avoid pitfalls. Measure things that will add value to the enterprise and improve customer satisfaction.

I describe several kinds of information quality characteristics and measures that knowledge workers may deem important in the quality of their information. I differentiate between inherent information quality characteristics, such as whether the data is accurate to the real-world objects the data describes, and pragmatic quality characteristics, such as the degree to which information quality helps knowledge workers accomplish enterprise objectives.

I then outline a step-by-step process for information quality assessment, again providing guidelines for how to perform this successfully.

The ultimate result of improving information quality will be your ability to report and certify information quality that consistently meet all knowledge worker and end-customer expectations.

Objectives of Information Quality Assessment

There are three reasons to measure information quality. The first is to assure that the data production processes are providing consistently ...