An Approach to Data Quality Evaluation

This research proposes a new approach to data quality evaluation comprising 3 aspects: (1) data object definition, which quality will be analyzed, (2) quality requirements specification for the data object using Domain Specific Language (DSL), (3) implementation of an executable data quality model that would enable scanning of data object and detect its shortages. Like the Model Driven Architecture (MDA) the data quality modelling is divided into platform independent (PIM) and platform-specific (PSM) models. PIM comprises informal specifications of data quality, PSM describes implementation of data quality model, thus making the data quality model executable. The approbation of the proposed…

Data Quality Model-based Testing of Information Systems

This paper proposes a model-based testing approach by offering to use the data quality model (DQ-model) instead of the program’s control flow graph as a testing model. The DQ-model contains definitions and conditions for data objects to consider the data object as correct. The study proposes to automatically generate a complete test set (CTS) using a DQmodel that allows all data quality conditions to be tested, resulting in a full coverage of DQ-model. In addition, the possibility to check the conformity of the data to be entered and already stored in the database is ensured. The proposed alternative approach changes the testing process: (1) CTS can be generated prior to software developmen…

Data Quality Model-based Testing of Information Systems: the Use-case of E-scooters

The paper proposes a data quality model-based testing methodology aimed at improving testing methodology of information systems (IS) using previously proposed data quality model. The solution supposes creation of a description of the data to be processed by IS and the data quality requirements used for the development of the tests, followed by performing an automated test of the system on the generated tests verifying the correctness of data to be entered and stored in the database. The generation of tests for all possible data quality conditions creates a complete set of tests that verify the operation of the IS under all possible data quality conditions. The proposed solution is demonstra…

Application of LEAN Principles to Improve Business Processes: a Case Study in a Latvian IT Company

The research deals with application of the LEAN principles to business processes of a typical IT company. The paper discusses LEAN principles amplifying advantages and shortcomings of their application. The authors suggest use of the LEAN principles as a tool to identify improvement potential for IT company's business processes and work-flow efficiency. During a case study the implementation of LEAN principles has been exemplified in business processes of a particular Latvian IT company. The obtained results and conclusions can be used for meaningful and successful application of LEAN principles and methods in projects of other IT companies.

Applying of Smart Technologies: Evaluation of Effectiveness

This paper is dedicated to various aspects and perspectives of applying the smart technologies in software solutions. Based on experience acquired during software development projects, the author proposes criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of enhancing of existing products with smart technologies. The evaluation of effectiveness can be used to support decision making on implementing the smart technologies in existing products or products in development.

Models of Event Driven Systems

This paper provides the business process modeling approach based on usage of Domain Specific Languages (DSL). The proposed approach allows us to create executable information systems’ models and extends the concept of Event Driven Architecture (EDA) with the business process execution description. It lets us apply principles of the Model Driven Development (MDD) in order to create the information system which complies with the model. The proposed approach provides a set of advantages in information systems development, use and maintenance: bridges the gap between business and IT, an exact specification, which is easily to implement into information system, up-to-date documentation etc. The …

Data Quality Model-Based Testing of Information Systems: Two-Level Testing of the Insurance System

In order to develop reliable software, its operating must be verified for all possible cases of use. This can be achieved, at least partly, by means of a model-based testing (MBT), by establishing tests that check all conditions covered by the model. This paper presents a Data Quality Model-based Testing (DQMBT) using the data quality model (DQ-model) as a testing model. The DQ-model contains definitions and conditions for data objects to consider the data object as correct. The proposed testing approach allows complete testing of the conformity of the data to be entered and the data already stored in the database. The data to be entered shall be verified by means of predefined pre-conditio…

Business Process Models and Information System Usability

Abstract The paper describes the use of business process models for effective managing of information system execution processes and transparent representation of execution statuses. Contrary to traditional approaches where business process models are used only in the initial stages of information system development, the proposed approach suggests direct utilization of business process models during the use of information systems. Information system usability can be improved by using new means of representation, and business process models can serve as an efficient way to visualize execution processes in information systems.

Towards Data Quality Runtime Verification

This paper discusses data quality checking during business process execution by using runtime verification. While runtime verification verifies the correctness of business process execution, data quality checks assure that particular process did not negatively impact the stored data. Both, runtime verification and data quality checks run in parallel with the base processes affecting them insignificantly. The proposed idea allows verifying (a) if the process was ended correctly as well as (b) whether the results of the correct process did not negatively impact the stored data in result of its modification caused by the specific process. The desired result will be achieved by use of domain sp…

Smart Technologies for Improved Software Maintenance

Steadily increasing complexity of software systems makes them difficult to configure and use without special IT knowledge. One of the solutions is to improve software systems making them “smarter”, i.e. to supplement software systems with features of self-management, at least partially. This paper describes several software components known as smart technologies, which facilitate software use and maintenance. As to date smart technologies incorporate version updating, execution environment testing, self-testing, runtime verification and business process execution. The proposed approach has been successfully applied in several software projects.

Models of Data Quality

The research proposes a new approach to data quality management presenting three groups of DSL (Domain Specific Language). The first language group uses concept of data object in order to describe data to be analysed, the second group describes the requirements on data quality, and the third group describes data quality management process. The proposed approach deals with development of executable quality specifications for each kind of data objects. The specification can be executed step-by-step according to business process descriptions, ensuring the gradual accumulation of data in the database and data quality verification according to the specific use case.

Data quality evaluation: a comparative analysis of company registers’ open data in four European countries

A Step Towards a Data Quality Theory

Data quality issues have been topical for many decades. However, a unified data quality theory has not been proposed yet, since many concepts associated with the term “data quality” are not straightforward enough. The paper proposes a user-oriented data quality theory based on clearly defined concepts. The concepts are defined by using three groups of domain-specific languages (DSLs): (1) the first group uses the concept of a data object to describe the data to be analysed, (2) the second group describes the data quality requirements, and (3) the third group describes the process of data quality evaluation. The proposed idea proved to be simple enough, but at the same time very effective in…

Self-management of Information Systems

The paper discusses self-management features that are intended to support the usage and maintenance processes in the information system life. Instead of a universal solutions that are evolved by many researchers in the autonomic computing field, this approach, called smart technologies, anticipates self-management features by including autonomic components into information systems directly. The approach is practically applied in several information systems, and the gained results show that the implementation of self-management features requires relatively modest resources. Thereby the approach is suitable even for smaller projects and companies.

Risks of Concurrent Execution in E-Commerce Processes

The development of ICT facilitates replacing the traditional buying and selling processes with e-commerce solutions. If several customers are served concurrently, e.g. at the same time, the processes can interference each other causing risks for both the buyer and the seller. The paper offers a method to identify purchase/sale risks in simultaneous multi-customer service processes. First, an exact model of buying-selling processes is created and the conditions for the correct process execution are formulated. Then an analysis of all the possible scenarios, including the concurrently executed buying-selling scenarios, is performed using a symbolic execution of process descriptions. The obtai…

Domain-Specific Characteristics of Data Quality

The research discusses the issue how to describe data quality and what should be taken into account when developing an universal data quality management solution. The proposed approach is to create quality specifications for each kind of data objects and to make them executable. The specification can be executed step-by-step according to business process descriptions, ensuring the gradual accumulation of data in the database and data quality checking according to the specific use case. The described approach can be applied to check the completeness, accuracy, timeliness and consistency of accumulated data.

Executable Data Quality Models

The paper discusses an external solution for data quality management in information systems. In contradiction to traditional data quality assurance methods, the proposed approach provides the usage of a domain specific language (DSL) for description data quality models. Data quality models consists of graphical diagrams, which elements contain requirements for data object's values and procedures for data object's analysis. The DSL interpreter makes the data quality model executable therefore ensuring measurement and improving of data quality. The described approach can be applied: (1) to check the completeness, accuracy and consistency of accumulated data; (2) to support data migration in c…

Smart Technologies in Software Life Cycle

In software life cycle models traditionally the main attention is being paid to the software development, including requirement gathering (specification), design, implementation and testing. Less research is devoted to the system maintenance and operation despite the fact that these aspects take up the main part of the duration of a successful system. In the paper smart technologies are being analysed - architectural designs and software components which using meta information on system and its usage conditions are able to solve efficiently the problems of maintenance and usage: data quality and performance monitoring, software flexibility and testability, context dependant user interface. …