Introducing Data Quality in a Cooperative Context

Cooperative Information Systems are defined as numerous, diverse systems, distributed over large, complex computer and communication networks which work together to request and share information, constraints, and goals. The problem of data quality becomes crucial when huge amounts of data are exchanged and distributed in such an intensive way as in these contexts. In this paper we make some proposals on how to introduce data quality into a cooperative environment. We define some specific quality dimensions, we describe a conceptual data quality model to be used by each cooperative organization when exporting its own data, and we suggest some methodologies for the global management of data quality.