Developing a Measurement Instrument for Subjective Aspects of Information Quality

Having quality information is crucial for effective operations and decision making within organisations. The InfoQual framework provides a sound theoretical basis for defining information quality at three levels: syntactic (form), semantic (content), and pragmatic (usage). Objective measures can be defined for the syntactic and semantic levels. In this paper, we focus on the pragmatic level by developing and empirically testing an instrument that aims to measure subjective aspects of information quality based on the perceptions of information consumers. In combination, such a framework and instrument have the potential to aid organizations in identifying problems and planning improvement strategies for information qualit

The Online Panels Benchmarking Study: a Total Survey Error comparison of fndings from probability-based surveys and nonprobability online panel surveys in Australia

The pervasiveness of the internet has led online research, and particularly online research undertaken via nonprobability online panels, to become the dominant mode of sampling and data collection used by the Australian market and social research industry. There are broad-based concerns that the rapid increase in the use of nonprobability online panels in Australia has not been accompanied by an informed debate about the advantages and disadvantages of probability and nonprobability surveys. The 2015 Australian online Panels Benchmarking Study was undertaken to inform this debate, and report on the fndings from a single national questionnaire administered across three different probability samples and fve different nonprobability online panels. This study enables us to investigate whether Australian surveys using probability sampling methods produce results different from Australian online surveys relying on nonprobability sampling methods, where accuracy is measured relative to independent population benchmarks. In doing so, we build on similar international research in this area, and discuss our fndings as they relate to coverage error, nonresponse error, adjustment error and measurement error

Building a probability-based online panel: Life in Australia™

Life in Australia™ was created to provide Australian researchers, policy makers, academics and businesses with access to a scientifically sampled cross-section of Australian resident adults at a lower cost than telephone surveys. Panellists were recruited using dual-frame landline and mobile random digit dialling. The majority of panellists choose to complete questionnaires online. Representation of the offline population is ensured by interviewing by telephone those panellists who cannot or will not complete questionnaires online. Surveys are conducted about once a month, covering a variety of topics, most with a public opinion or health focus. Full panel waves yield 2000 or more completed surveys. Panellists are offered a small incentive for completing surveys, which they can choose to donate to a charity instead. This paper describes how Life in Australia™ was built and maintained before the first panel refreshment in June 2018. We document the qualitative pretesting used to inform the development of recruitment and enrolment communications materials, and the pilot tests used to assess alternative recruitment approaches and the comparative effectiveness of these approaches. The methods used for the main recruitment effort are detailed, together with various outcome rates. The operation of the panel after recruitment is also described. We assess the performance of the panel compared with other probability surveys and nonprobability online access panels, and against benchmarks from high-quality sources. Finally, we assess Life in Australia™ from a total survey error perspective

Integrating Risks in Business Process Models with Value focused Process Engineering

As enterprise systems develop, the integration of various business management dimensions becomes increasingly important. However, historical disciplinary boundaries between information systems and management sciences can obstruct this path to integration. For example, risk management is generally considered as a business process within process engineering, while in the context of management sciences risk is treated as a threat to business objectives that needs to be minimized. Both views are essential for a complete approach to identifying, understanding and managing risks in order to optimally meet business requirements. In this paper, we address the need for a holistic business view of risk management in the enterprise systems space by drawing on the strengths of the respective disciplines and identifying links between their complementary views of risk, which enables us to integrate these apparently diverging views. Through the application of value-focused process engineering principles to risk management models, we develop a framework that extends the capabilities of existing enterprise systems and enables risk-oriented process management which incorporates a multi-disciplinary view of risk. The proposed framework is illustrated in the context of a critical administrative process in a university to demonstrate the practical application of and the resulting benefits from the use of this framework

Goal-Oriented Decomposition of Event-Driven Process Chains with Value Focused Thinking

There is agreement in business modelling literature that decomposition of business processes should be guided by business criteria. However, there is little guidance as to how this should be achieved. Depending on the purpose of the business model, business criteria may refer to business analysis needs, documentation of business processes, allocation of resources, fulfilment of business objectives, etc. Although each of these criteria is important, the need for business processes to fulfil business objectives is paramount to the overall success of the business. In this paper we extend existing research on the relationship between business objectives and process modelling by proposing a conceptual model and implementation guidelines for process decomposition using business objectives as the guiding business criteria

Towards Decision-Enabled Business Process Modelling Tools: from e-EPC to de-EPC

Business process- and decisions-modelling methodologies have developed largely independently and the existing lack of cross-discipline integration in the area of business modelling is not only counterproductive for future methodological advances, but also imposes unnecessary limits on the ability of the existing business modelling tools to adequately reflect the complex integrated nature of a business enterprise. This paper examines the relationship between business process-modelling methodology of Event- Driven Process Chains (EPCs) and a variety of decision-modelling methods originating from the field of Operations Research/ Management Science. A path towards integration of business process- and decision-modelling tools is proposed by enhancing the decision capabilities of EPCs with the aim of achieving a more comprehensive and flexible model of business enterprise and further development of both modelling methods

An Empirical Study of Subjective Information Quality

Having quality information is crucial for effective operations and decision making within organisations. There is little agreement, however, about how information quality should be defined and measured. The Semiotic Information Quality framework provides a sound theoretical basis for defining information quality at three levels: syntactic (form), semantic (content), and pragmatic (usage). Objective measures have been defined for the syntactic and semantic levels. In this paper we focus on the pragmatic level by developing and empirically testing an instrument that aims to measure subjective aspects of information quality based on the perceptions of information consumers. The study serves as the basis for refining the framework’s pragmatic level and for further development of an associated measurement instrument for subjective information quality. In combination, such a framework and instrument have the potential to aid organizations in identifying problems and planning improvement strategies for information quality. Keywords: Subjective information quality, instrument development, semiotic framewor

Value-focused business process engineering: a systems approach with applications to human resource management

One of the keys to successful business process engineering is tight alignment of processes with organisational goals and values. Historically, however, it has always been difficult to relate different levels of organizational processes to the strategic and operational objectives of a complex organization with many interrelated and interdependent processes and goals. This lack of integration is especially well recognized within the Human Resource Management (HRM) discipline, where there is a clearly defined need for greater alignment of HRM processes with the overall organizational objectives. 'Value-focused business process engineering' combines and extends the best on offer in information systems and operations research/decision sciences modelling paradigms to facilitate gains in both business efficiency and business effectiveness. The first part of the book examines a wide range of research issues in modelling business processes and objectives by expanding the focus of business process engineering from creating more efficient business processes to also making them more effective. The second part of the book presents methodology and tools for a holistic approach to business process engineering within the HRM context. The original contribution of the value-focused process engineering methodology lies in the integration of the best aspects of event-process driven chains and the value-focused thinking within a single model, in a way that preserves the strengths of the respective models while facilitating the emergence of new properties that satisfy goal-oriented business process modelling requirements