Data Quality in Business

Data is considered to be of high quality if they are fit for use in operations, compliance, and decision making. Data quality in business is multidimensional, and selecting the pertinent data quality dimensions will help enterprises better assess business performance from data. Trusted information comes from deriving reliability in both context and data. Discussing data and its quality levels without talking of IT systems is incomplete because data is originated, stored, processed, and even purged in IT systems. In this regard, there are three main types of IT systems where data is managed in business enterprises: Online Transactional Processing, Integration or Middleware, and Online Analytical Processing systems. Given that every business endeavor today rests on sound data quality, ensuring quality data in the enterprise is of paramount importance. Data quality initiatives should be pursued holistically, considering the firm's strategy, goals, business processes, IT systems, and stakeholders' roles and responsibilities.