Gianluigi Viscusi

GovQual: A Quality Driven Methodology for E-Government Project Planning

We present a methodology for eGovernment project planning that uses a multidisciplinary approach. The set of expertises needed for the design of eGovernment systems is wide and ranges from social to juridical, economic, organizational, and technological perspectives, which have to be faced in a unique vision. The methodology has three phases: state reconstruction, assessment, and strategic planning. Our aim is to bring out a number of issues, which are currently challenging in many eGovernment projects, through an integrated approach. In this paper we focus on socio-organizational and technological aspects. A case study provides evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of the methodology.

From Data Quality to Big Data Quality

This article investigates the evolution of data quality issues from traditional structured data managed in relational databases to Big Data. In particular, the paper examines the nature of the relationship between Data Quality and several research coordinates that are relevant in Big Data, such as the variety of data types, data sources and application domains, focusing on maps, semi-structured texts, linked open data, sensor & sensor networks and official statistics. Consequently a set of structural characteristics is identified and a systematization of the a posteriori correlation between them and quality dimensions is provided. Finally, Big Data quality issues are considered in a conceptual framework suitable to map the evolution of the quality paradigm according to three core coordinates that are significant in the context of the Big Data phenomenon: the data type considered, the source of data, and the application domain. Thus, the framework allows ascertaining the relevant changes in data quality emerging with the Big Data phenomenon, through an integrative and theoretical literature review.

Interoperability challenges for ICT-enabled governance: towards a pan-European conceptual framework

In the European academic and institutional debate, interoperability is predominantly seen as a means to enable public administrations to collaborate within Members State and across borders. The article presents a conceptual framework for ICT-enabled governance and analyses the role of interoperability in this regard. The article makes a specific reference to the exploratory research project carried out by the Information Society Unit of the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) of the European Commissions Joint Research Centre on emerging ICT-enabled governance models in EU cities (EXPGOV). The aim of this project is to study the interplay between ICTs and governance processes at city level and formulate an interdisciplinary framework to assess the various dynamics emerging from the application of ICT-enabled service innovations in European cities. In this regard, the conceptual framework proposed in this article results from an action research perspective and investigation of e-governance experiences carried out in Europe. It aims to elicit the main value drivers that should orient how interoperable systems are implemented, considering the reciprocal influences that occur between these systems and different governance models in their specific context.

Shaping public sector innovation theory: an interpretative framework for ICT-enabled governance innovation

The paper discusses from a conceptual standpoint the need for renewing the lenses through which looking at the phenomenon of ICT-enabled innovation in governance and policy-making, suggesting that a possible ‘new theory of public sector innovation´ should be advanced. In doing this, it should be considered the specific networked structure of governance systems, the policy-making goals of public value, as well as the various constituencies and stakeholders’ relationships that characterize the public sector. For this purpose, the paper first presents the key findings of an extensive literature review conducted to support the quest for renewing ICT-enabled innovation in the public sector and the manner in which it is measured and evaluated. Then, building on recent research conducted by the authors an interpretative framework to assess how ICT-enabled innovations produce changes in governance processes is proposed and discussed. The paper ends with conclusions and indications on future research.

Managing quality of large set of conceptual schemas in public administration: methods and experiences

Information growth asks Public Administrations for an effective control over their information asset. Furthermore, having a global representation of the core concepts of such an asset implies to manage large set of conceptual schemas. At the state of the art, the use of repositories of conceptual schemas aims to provide a structured, global and scalable representation of the core concepts managed in complex large scale information systems. In this paper we discuss several quality properties of repositories, analyzing them within a real, large scale experience.

Innovation capacity and the role of information systems: a qualitative study

Today businesses are facing radical transformations through digitalization of services and products. Accordingly, their ability to innovate is increasingly linked to the capacity to innovate through information and communication technologies (ICTs). This article investigates the role of information systems (IS) as a key factor for innovation capacity. To this end, the article discusses an interpretive framework for understanding the degree of capacity of innovation through information systems (IS) reached by a given company and the contradictions that bound its evolution. An interpretive study is also presented, where the framework has been applied to seven French companies from various industries. Consistently with the framework, the interviews address process areas and practices related to three core categories: management, innovation engineering and support. The study reveals seven fundamental contradictions that can explain the main tendencies observed across the companies.

Opening the Closed World: A Survey of Information Quality Research in the Wild

In this paper we identify and discuss key topics characterizing recent information quality research and their impact on future research perspectives in a context where information is increasingly diverse. The investigation considers basic issues related to information quality definitions, dimensions, and factors referring to information systems, information representation, influence of the observer and of the task. We conclude the paper by discussing how philosophical studies can contribute to a better understanding of some key foundational problems that emerged in our analysis.

Pattern detection for conceptual schema recovery in data-intensive systems

In this paper, an approach for information systems reverse engineering is proposed and applied. The aim is to support a unified perspective to the reverse engineering process of both data and software. At the state of the art, indeed, many methods, techniques, and tools for software reverse engineering have been proposed to support program comprehension, software maintenance, and software evolution. Other approaches and tools have been proposed for data reverse engineering, with the aim, for example, to provide complete and up‐to‐date documentation of legacy databases. However, the two engineering communities often worked independently, and very few approaches addressed the reverse engineering of both data and software as information systems constituencies. Hence, a higher integration is needed to support a better co‐evolution of databases and programs, in an environment often characterized by high availability of data and volatility of information flows. Accordingly, the approach we propose leverages the detection of object‐relational mapping design patterns to build a conceptual schema of the software under analysis. Then, the conceptual schema is mapped to the domain model of the system, to support the design of the evolution of the information system itself. The approach is evaluated on two large‐scale open‐source enterprise applications. Copyright

Digital governance in the public sector: challenging the policy-maker's innovation dilemma

In this paper we propose an interpretative framework for the analysis of different configurations of digital Innovation Governance in the Public Sector. The goal is to provide an instrument suitable to support policy analysts challenging what we have identified as the Policy-Makers innovation dilemma. From a theoretical perspective, our proposal intends to contribute advancing the understanding of the application of innovation and network theories to the governance phenomenon. Moreover, it aims contributing to the current debate on the assessment of the socio-economic impacts generated by ICT-enabled services, and the co-evolution of technological advancement and societal changes. From a methodological standpoint, the interpretative framework, aims to provide a systemic perspective and an instrument to elicit the links between ICT-enabled innovation and public governance, outlining the various challenges that this poses. It in fact attempts to capture those governance changes which are strongly conditioned by historical transformations in societys underlying values and organisational models suggesting to be analysed by looking at the public value drivers that underpin ICT-enabled governance and which include the dimensions of Performance, Openness, and Inclusion.

Digital Information Asset Evaluation: Characteristics and Dimensions

Information growth makes the understanding of the value of digital information assets a key issue to information systems management. To this end, the paper discusses the results of the reconstruction of a multidisciplinary literature, addressing information value or some of the related concepts or drivers. The analysis allows identifying characteristics and dimensions relevant to digital information asset evaluation. In particular, information capacity results as a core characteristic of information value, encompassing information quality, information structure, information infrastructure, and information diffusion.