Innovative strategy toward mass customization of geospatial information: the case of National Geographic Information Institute in South Korea

Abstract

Current ready-made geospatial information (GI) production method of National Geographic Information Institute causes issues, including duplications and inconsistencies of data, and low customer satisfaction. This study suggests concept, framework, approach, and strategy for mass customization of GI to tackle the current production method. First, this study defines mass customization of GI as “a method of producing and providing GI that reflects customer needs, based on modularized and standardized geospatial data as source data”. It is to develop modularized and standardized National Geospatial Data (NGD) based on object-oriented database, using this as source data to produce and provide multi-services of GI. Second, this study suggests three phases (i.e., development/update, management/combination, customization/provision) and seven unit tasks (i.e., data acquisition/synchronization, security management, data maintenance, specification-oriented combination, demand survey, demand-oriented combination) as approach to implement mass customization of GI. Third, this study suggests strategy for GI mass customization, including modularization and standardization of NGD and production process, and customization. Fourth, this study confirms high feasibility of the approach and strategy, through discussion on sufficient condition, success factor, and goal achievement for GI mass customization. This study has implication in shifting paradigm of GI production method from ready-made to customization.