The value of business metadata: Structuring the benefits in a business intelligence context

Abstract

Business metadata (BM) plays a crucial role in increasing data quality of information systems (IS), especially in terms of data believability, ease of understanding, and accessibility. Despite its importance BM is primarily discussed from a technical perspective, while its business value is scarcely addressed. Therefore, this article aims to contribute to the further development of existing research by providing a conceptual framework of qualitative and quantitative benefits. A financial service provider case is presented that demonstrates how this conceptual framework has successfully been applied in a two-stage cost-benefit analysis. © Springer-Verlag 2011.