An Evaluation of an Information Sharing Workflow Using Data Provenance Semantics

Abstract

Abstract For effective information sharing, data provenance semantics need to be managed effectively. Based on a scheme to represent data provenance semantics, we propose a model to calculate information sharing costs. Information sharing costs are derived from probabilities of type I and type II errors that occur in organizational information sharing, costs related to these errors, and information sharing distances between organizational units which are determined by information sharing workflows. We apply the model to various types of information sharing workflows including departmental information systems, hierarchical information systems, a hub and a stand-alone system. The calculated information sharing costs show that the hub with data standardization is best in information sharing; however without standardization its information sharing cost deteriorates to that of a departmental information system. And, any information sharing workflow is better than a stand-alone system. It is proved that the model is useful in analyzing effectiveness of information sharing workflows and their characteristics.