The matter of data quality has become increasingly important in proportion to the amount of data being collected and stored. Methods for dealing with large amounts of data such as larger information systems and data warehouses only obscure, and sometimes even increase, the problem of the data's quality. The root of the problem usually lays in bad data quality practices. This book claims to offer a “roadmap” for practitioners, managers, and students for planning and implementing a data and information quality management programme.
To start with, the authors describe methods of conducting a cost/benefit analysis for data quality management, because unless senior managers accept the case for data quality, it is unlikely to get done.
They then discuss and evaluate different methods of assessing data quality. The three methods described in most detail are:
- 1.
the use of a data quality survey;
- 2.
the use of quantifiable data quality metrics; and
- 3.
embedding data quality analysis in a total data quality management (TDQM) cycle.
Their qualitative approach is very similar to gap analysis techniques used in marketing, including the use of quadrant analysis. Of course, a qualitative technique such as this depends upon the organisation's staff being aware of, and being able to comment upon, data quality, and that won't always be the case. The chapter on metrics is significant, for this is an area rarely touched on before and the authors have created new ideas for measuring aspects of data quality, albeit based upon the well‐known Codd database integrity constraints.
Two subsequent chapters are case studies of attempts to identify the causes of data quality problems, firstly in a health care organisation, the second in a large teaching hospital. They follow this with some suggestions for writing polices on data quality management.
It certainly isn't an easy book, and at times the maths was beyond me, but it is easy to appreciate how useful this book would be to anyone charged with improving the data quality of a large organisation.
This is altogether a much more useful book than Challenges of Managing Information Quality in Service Organizations, edited by Al‐Hakim (Idea Group, 2007) simply because it is much more focussed.
