Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization

The significance of data quality has increased with advancements in information systems and emerging technologies. High-quality data is essential for effective business operations and informed decision-making. Data quality is defined by its suitability for its intended purpose, making it context-dep...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Keränen, Annu
Other Authors: Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta, Faculty of Information Technology, Jyväskylän yliopisto, University of Jyväskylä
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/101745
_version_ 1833407614439915520
author Keränen, Annu
author2 Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Faculty of Information Technology Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
author_facet Keränen, Annu Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Faculty of Information Technology Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä Keränen, Annu Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta Faculty of Information Technology Jyväskylän yliopisto University of Jyväskylä
author_sort Keränen, Annu
datasource_str_mv jyx
description The significance of data quality has increased with advancements in information systems and emerging technologies. High-quality data is essential for effective business operations and informed decision-making. Data quality is defined by its suitability for its intended purpose, making it context-dependent. As data sources and volumes grow, managing data becomes more critical. Structured data governance has been shown to mitigate data quality issues arising from poor data management. The goal of data governance is to ensure data quality, enable efficient data use, ensure compliance, reduce risks, and maximize data value. This study aimed to examine how data governance impacts data quality, identify key components of a data governance framework, and explore the organizational needs driving its implementation. The research combined a literature review on data quality and governance with empirical research through a case study in a software testing organization. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with a hybrid deductive-inductive approach. The literature review highlighted the importance of structured governance efforts in improving data quality. Based on these insights, a data governance framework focused on data quality was developed and presented to interviewees for feedback. The empirical findings showed that while data governance is recognized as important, its practical implementation is lacking. Effective policies, clear responsibilities, and strong monitoring mechanisms were identified as essential for ensuring high-quality data. This study contributes to existing research by reinforcing the link between structured data governance and improved data quality, and highlighting the need for adaptable governance structures tailored to organizational needs. Datan laadun merkitys on kasvanut informaatioteknologian ja uusien teknologioiden kehityksen myötä. Korkealaatuinen data on välttämätöntä liiketoiminnan sujuvuuden ja informoidun päätöksenteon kannalta. Datan laatu määritellään yleisesti sen soveltuvuudeksi tarkoitukseensa, mikä tekee siitä hyvin kontekstisidonnaista. Datalähteiden ja datan määrän kasvaessa sen hallinta on entistä tärkeämpää. Järjestelmällinen datanhallinta on osoittautunut tehokkaaksi keinoksi vähentää heikosta datan käsittelystä johtuvia ongelmia datan laadussa. Datanhallinnan tavoitteena on varmistaa datan korkea laatu, mahdollistaa tehokas datan käyttö, varmistaa säännösten noudattaminen, vähentää riskejä ja maksimoida datan arvo. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tutkia, miten datanhallinta vaikuttaa datan laatuun, tunnistaa datanhallintamallin keskeiset osatekijät ja selvittää, mitkä organisaation tarpeet ajavat sen toteuttamista. Tutkimus toteutettiin yhdistämällä kirjallisuuskatsaus datan laadusta ja hallinnasta empiiriseen tutkimukseen, joka toteutettiin tapaustutkimuksen avulla ohjelmistotestausorganisaatiossa. Aineisto kerättiin puolistrukturoiduilla haastatteluilla ja analysoitiin käyttäen temaattista analyysiä, jossa hyödynnettiin sekä deduktiivista että induktiivista lähestymistapaa. Kirjallisuuskatsauksessa nousi esiin järjestelmällisen datanhallinnan merkitys datanlaadun parantamiseen. Näiden näkemysten pohjalta kehitettiin datan laadun varmistamiseen keskittyvä datanhallintamalli, joka esiteltiin haastateltaville. Empiiriset havainnot osoittivat, että vaikka datanhallinnan merkitys tunnistetaan organisaatiossa, sen käytännön toteutus on puutteellista. Tehokkaat toimintatavat, selkeästi määritellyt vastuut ja vahvat seurantamekanismit todettiin keskeisiksi toimiksi korkealaatuisen datan varmistamisessa. Tutkimus vahvistaa aiempaa kirjallisuutta osoittamalla yhteyden järjestelmällisen datanhallinnan ja korkealaatuisemman datan välillä, sekä tuo ilmi tarpeen hallintarakenteille, jotka on mukautettu vastaamaan yksittäisen organisaation tarpeita.
first_indexed 2025-05-05T20:00:50Z
format Pro gradu
fullrecord [{"key": "dc.contributor.advisor", "value": "Pekkola, Samuli", "language": null, "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "advisor", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.author", "value": "Ker\u00e4nen, Annu", "language": null, "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "author", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.accessioned", "value": "2025-05-05T11:15:36Z", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "accessioned", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.available", "value": "2025-05-05T11:15:36Z", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "available", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.date.issued", "value": "2025", "language": null, "element": "date", "qualifier": "issued", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.uri", "value": "https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/101745", "language": null, "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "uri", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.abstract", "value": "The significance of data quality has increased with advancements in information systems and emerging technologies. High-quality data is essential for effective business operations and informed decision-making. Data quality is defined by its suitability for its intended purpose, making it context-dependent. As data sources and volumes grow, managing data becomes more critical. Structured data governance has been shown to mitigate data quality issues arising from poor data management. The goal of data governance is to ensure data quality, enable efficient data use, ensure compliance, reduce risks, and maximize data value. This study aimed to examine how data governance impacts data quality, identify key components of a data governance framework, and explore the organizational needs driving its implementation. The research combined a literature review on data quality and governance with empirical research through a case study in a software testing organization. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with a hybrid deductive-inductive approach. The literature review highlighted the importance of structured governance efforts in improving data quality. Based on these insights, a data governance framework focused on data quality was developed and presented to interviewees for feedback. The empirical findings showed that while data governance is recognized as important, its practical implementation is lacking. Effective policies, clear responsibilities, and strong monitoring mechanisms were identified as essential for ensuring high-quality data. This study contributes to existing research by reinforcing the link between structured data governance and improved data quality, and highlighting the need for adaptable governance structures tailored to organizational needs.", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "abstract", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.abstract", "value": "Datan laadun merkitys on kasvanut informaatioteknologian ja uusien teknologioiden kehityksen my\u00f6t\u00e4. Korkealaatuinen data on v\u00e4ltt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6nt\u00e4 liiketoiminnan sujuvuuden ja informoidun p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6ksenteon kannalta. Datan laatu m\u00e4\u00e4ritell\u00e4\u00e4n yleisesti sen soveltuvuudeksi tarkoitukseensa, mik\u00e4 tekee siit\u00e4 hyvin kontekstisidonnaista. Datal\u00e4hteiden ja datan m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n kasvaessa sen hallinta on entist\u00e4 t\u00e4rke\u00e4mp\u00e4\u00e4. J\u00e4rjestelm\u00e4llinen datanhallinta on osoittautunut tehokkaaksi keinoksi v\u00e4hent\u00e4\u00e4 heikosta datan k\u00e4sittelyst\u00e4 johtuvia ongelmia datan laadussa. Datanhallinnan tavoitteena on varmistaa datan korkea laatu, mahdollistaa tehokas datan k\u00e4ytt\u00f6, varmistaa s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6sten noudattaminen, v\u00e4hent\u00e4\u00e4 riskej\u00e4 ja maksimoida datan arvo. T\u00e4m\u00e4n tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tutkia, miten datanhallinta vaikuttaa datan laatuun, tunnistaa datanhallintamallin keskeiset osatekij\u00e4t ja selvitt\u00e4\u00e4, mitk\u00e4 organisaation tarpeet ajavat sen toteuttamista. Tutkimus toteutettiin yhdist\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4 kirjallisuuskatsaus datan laadusta ja hallinnasta empiiriseen tutkimukseen, joka toteutettiin tapaustutkimuksen avulla ohjelmistotestausorganisaatiossa. Aineisto ker\u00e4ttiin puolistrukturoiduilla haastatteluilla ja analysoitiin k\u00e4ytt\u00e4en temaattista analyysi\u00e4, jossa hy\u00f6dynnettiin sek\u00e4 deduktiivista ett\u00e4 induktiivista l\u00e4hestymistapaa. Kirjallisuuskatsauksessa nousi esiin j\u00e4rjestelm\u00e4llisen datanhallinnan merkitys datanlaadun parantamiseen. N\u00e4iden n\u00e4kemysten pohjalta kehitettiin datan laadun varmistamiseen keskittyv\u00e4 datanhallintamalli, joka esiteltiin haastateltaville. Empiiriset havainnot osoittivat, ett\u00e4 vaikka datanhallinnan merkitys tunnistetaan organisaatiossa, sen k\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6n toteutus on puutteellista. Tehokkaat toimintatavat, selke\u00e4sti m\u00e4\u00e4ritellyt vastuut ja vahvat seurantamekanismit todettiin keskeisiksi toimiksi korkealaatuisen datan varmistamisessa. Tutkimus vahvistaa aiempaa kirjallisuutta osoittamalla yhteyden j\u00e4rjestelm\u00e4llisen datanhallinnan ja korkealaatuisemman datan v\u00e4lill\u00e4, sek\u00e4 tuo ilmi tarpeen hallintarakenteille, jotka on mukautettu vastaamaan yksitt\u00e4isen organisaation tarpeita.", "language": "fi", "element": "description", "qualifier": "abstract", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Submitted by jyx lomake-julkaisija (jyx-julkaisija.group@korppi.jyu.fi) on 2025-05-05T11:15:36Z\nNo. of bitstreams: 0", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.provenance", "value": "Made available in DSpace on 2025-05-05T11:15:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "provenance", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.extent", "value": "96", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "extent", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.mimetype", "value": "application/pdf", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "mimetype", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.language.iso", "value": "eng", "language": null, "element": "language", "qualifier": "iso", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights", "value": "In Copyright", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.title", "value": "Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization", "language": null, "element": "title", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type", "value": "master thesis", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": null, "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.identifier.urn", "value": "URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202505053745", "language": null, "element": "identifier", "qualifier": "urn", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.faculty", "value": "Informaatioteknologian tiedekunta", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "faculty", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.faculty", "value": "Faculty of Information Technology", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "faculty", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.organization", "value": "Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto", "language": "fi", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "organization", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.contributor.organization", "value": "University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4", "language": "en", "element": "contributor", "qualifier": "organization", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.discipline", "value": "Tietoj\u00e4rjestelm\u00e4tieteen maisteriohjelma", "language": "fi", "element": "subject", "qualifier": "discipline", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.subject.discipline", "value": "Master's Degree Programme in Information Systems", "language": "en", "element": "subject", "qualifier": "discipline", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.coar", "value": "http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdcc", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "coar", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.copyright", "value": "\u00a9 The Author(s)", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "copyright", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accesslevel", "value": "restrictedAccess", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accesslevel", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.type.publication", "value": "masterThesis", "language": null, "element": "type", "qualifier": "publication", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.format.content", "value": "fulltext", "language": null, "element": "format", "qualifier": "content", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.url", "value": "https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/", "language": null, "element": "rights", "qualifier": "url", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accessrights", "value": "Tekij\u00e4 ei ole antanut lupaa avoimeen julkaisuun, joten aineisto on luettavissa vain Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston kirjaston arkistoty\u00f6semalta. Ks. https://www.jyu.fi/fi/osc/kirjasto/tyoskentelytilat/laitteet-ja-tilat#toc-jyx-ty-asema.", "language": "fi", "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accessrights", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.rights.accessrights", "value": "The author has not given permission to make the work publicly available electronically. Therefore the material can be read only at the archival workstation at Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 University Library (https://www.jyu.fi/en/osc/library/workspaces/facilities-and-equipment#toc-jyx-workstation).", "language": "en", "element": "rights", "qualifier": "accessrights", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.accessibilityfeature", "value": "unknown accessibility", "language": "en", "element": "description", "qualifier": "accessibilityfeature", "schema": "dc"}, {"key": "dc.description.accessibilityfeature", "value": "ei tietoa saavutettavuudesta", "language": "fi", "element": "description", "qualifier": "accessibilityfeature", "schema": "dc"}]
id jyx.123456789_101745
language eng
last_indexed 2025-05-21T20:07:01Z
main_date 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z
main_date_str 2025
publishDate 2025
record_format qdc
source_str_mv jyx
spellingShingle Keränen, Annu Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization Tietojärjestelmätieteen maisteriohjelma Master's Degree Programme in Information Systems
title Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization
title_full Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization
title_fullStr Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization
title_full_unstemmed Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization
title_short Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization
title_sort improving data quality a case study of data governance in a testing organization
title_txtP Improving data quality: a case study of data governance in a testing organization
topic Tietojärjestelmätieteen maisteriohjelma Master's Degree Programme in Information Systems
topic_facet Master's Degree Programme in Information Systems Tietojärjestelmätieteen maisteriohjelma
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/101745 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202505053745
work_keys_str_mv AT keränenannu improvingdataqualityacasestudyofdatagovernanceinatestingorganization