Using Control Matrices to Evaluate Information Production Maps

An information production map (IP-MAP) is a graphical model designed to help people to comprehend, evaluate, and describe how a data product such as an invoice, customer order, or prescription is assembled. In this paper, an information product control matrix is introduced in conjunction with the IP-Map to help data administrators assess the overall quality of their information products. 1. Information Production Maps Information Production Maps (IP-Maps) are based on the idea that information outputs produced by information systems are analogous to products produced by manufacturing systems. Just as the quality of products produced in a manufacturing systems can be analyzed and tracked, the same can be done for information products. IP-maps are a means by which one can model the creation of the information product from its original raw data sources through the various processing, quality checking, and storage stages to its final form. Ballou et al. (1998) used this approach to model the information production process using symbolic blocks similar to those used in data flow diagrams. To distinguish this model, which emphasizes terminology and parameters based on manufacturing concepts as well as introducing the data quality construct, Ballou et al. (1998) referred to these diagrams as information manufacturing models. Shankaranarayanan et al. (2000) further enhanced the work done by Ballou et al. (1998) by adding three new blocks to model decision points, IS boundary points, and organization boundary points. Shankaranarayanan et al. (2000) also added metadata describing the department/role, location, business process, data composition, and base system to each of the blocks so that the IP-Map would contain relevant descriptive information that would allow the data administrator to more easily retrieve details about each of the IP-Map constructs. Figure 1: List of IP-Map Constructs Org Boundary (BBi) IS Boundary (SBi)