A characteristics framework for Semantic Information Systems Standards

Abstract

Semantic Information Systems (IS) Standards play a critical role in the development of the networked economy. While their importance is undoubted by all stakeholders-such as businesses, policy makers, researchers, developers-the current state of research leaves a number of questions unaddressed. Terminological confusion exists around the notions of ''business semantics'', ''business-to-business interoperability'', and ''interoperability standards'' amongst others. And, moreover, a comprehensive understanding about the characteristics of Semantic IS Standards is missing. The paper addresses this gap in literature by developing a characteristics framework for Semantic IS Standards. Two case studies are used to check the applicability of the framework in a ''real-life'' context. The framework lays the foundation for future research in an important field of the IS discipline and supports practitioners in their efforts to analyze, compare, and evaluate Semantic IS Standards.

Data standards quality measured for achieving enterprise interoperability: the case of the SETU standard for flexible staffing

“…The core of the data standard is often its specification document but there is more. Earlier work (Otto et al 2011) shows that characteristics of a data standard include its context, the content, the development and maintenance approach, and the application aspects of the standard. The full characteristics model of a data standards is depicted in Fig.…”

“…This maps the previous described characteristics model of a data standard since product quality deals with the content (the specification), the process quality relates to the development and Fig. 1 Characteristics model of a data standard [adapted from (Otto et al 2011)] maintenance processes as carried out by the development organization, whereas quality in practice deals with the application context, the performance of the implementations of the standard. Dependent on the information needs in practice, only parts of the quality model have to be used.…”