This master thesis is concerned with the choice of suitable data quality dimensions for a particular database of economy information and proposes and implements metrics for its assessment. The aim of this paper is to define the term data quality in the context of economy information database and possible ways to measure it. Based on dimensions suitable to observe, a list of metrics was created and subsequently implemented in SQL query language, alternatively in a procedural extension Transact SQL. These metrics were also tested with the use of real data and the results were provided with a commentary. The main asset of this work is its complex processing of the data quality topic, from theoretical term definition to particular implementation of individual metrics. Finally, this study offers a variety of both theoretical and practical directions fort this issue to be further researched.

Covid-19 förändrade evenemangsbranschen och arrangörer fick ställa om och utveckladigitala evenemang. Den stora konkurrensen mellan evenemang och faktumet att evenemangsbranschen inte är tillräckligt digitalt mogen har bidragit till att forskning kring utformningen av digitala evenemang har blivit än mer väsentlig. I en förändradevenemangsomgivning blev det därmed viktigt att studera ett digitalt evenemang utifrån ett konsumentperspektiv för att bidra till att evenemangsarrangörer mer effektivt ska kunna utforma digitala evenemang. Upplevelserummet är den fysiska miljö där samtliga evenemang äger rum. Det är utifrån upplevelserummet som olika attribut formas och mynnar ut i kvalitetsdimensioner som skiljer sig åt beroende på evenemang, och påverkar besökares upplevda emotionella och funktionella värde. Genom att fokusera på både emotionellt- och funktionellt värde kan arrangörer maximera fördelarna från evenemanget och förhöja besökares upplevelse. Syftet med den här studien är således att skapa en ökad förståelse kring vilka dimensioner som är viktiga i utformningen av ett digitalt evenemang genom att studerabesökares upplevelse utifrån emotionellt- och funktionellt värde. Ett kvantitativt tillvägagångssätt har genomförts genom insamling av data i form av en webbaserad enkät. Studien tillämpades på ett internt digitalt företagsevenemang och enkäten fick 103 svar vilket resulterade i en 100 procentig svarsfrekvens. Svaren har därefter presenterats och analyserats. Utifrån studiens resultat visade det sig att informationstjänster, programinnehåll och produkter var viktiga kvalitetsdimensioner i utformningen av det specifika evenemanget. Det här bidrog till emotionellt- och funktionellt värde och har därmed varit avgörande faktorer i en förhöjdupplevelse. Fortsättningsvis visade resultatet att det fanns ett samband mellan emotionella och funktionella påståenden vilket betyder att det multidimensionella synsättet går att tillämpa på det här specifika digitala evenemanget. Dessutom hittade studien flera samband mellan de funktionella och emotionella påståendena vilket visar på att värdet från exempelvisinformationstjänster har ett samband med programinnehåll. Det betyder att värdet kan stärkas av att både informationen inför evenemanget gjorde att jag kunde njuta av evenemanget, och att upplägget på AW:n var underhållande. / Covid-19 changed the event industry and organizers had to change and develop digital events. The great competition among events and the fact that the event industry is not sufficiently digital mature has contributed to research on the design of digital events becoming even more significant. Accordingly, it became necessary in a changed event environment to study a digital event from a consumer perspective, in order to contribute to event organizers being able to design digital events more efficiently. The experience room is the physical environment where all events take place. It is based on the experience room where different attributes form and result in quality dimensions which differ depending on the event, and affect visitors' perceived emotional and functional value. By focusing on both emotional and functional value, organizers can maximize the benefits of the event and enhance visitors' experience. The purpose of this study is thus to create an increased understanding of which dimensions are important in the design of a digital event by studying visitors' experience based on emotional- and functional value. A quantitative approach has been implemented by collecting data through a web-based survey. The study is applied to an internal digital corporate event and the survey received 103 responses that result in a 100 percent response rate. The answers have then been presented and analyzed. Based on the results of the study, it turned out that information services, program content and products were important quality dimensions in the design of the specific event. This contributed to emotional- and functional value and has thus been decisive factors in an enhanced experience. Furthermore, the results showed that there was a connection between emotional and functional statements, which means that the multidimensional approach can be applied to this specific digital event. Additionally, the study finds connections between the functional and emotional statements indicating that the value from, for example information services has a connection with program content. This signifies that the value can be strengthened by the fact that both the information introduced to the event made it possible for me to enjoy the event, and that the layout of the AW was entertaining. The following essay is written in swedish.

Syfte: Kundnöjdhet förekommer i olika nivåer när en konsument genomför ett köp av tjänst. Servicekvaliteten är av stor vikt vid uppfyllandet av konsumentens behov och önskemål. Det finns tio olika dimensioner av servicekvalitet, där en av dimensionerna är pålitlighet. Servicekvalitets dimensionen pålitlighet har dock kritiserats vid olika tillfällen och är varierande beroende på bransch. Tidigare studier resulterade i att pålitlighet inte har en stor inverkan i kundnöjdhet, medan andra studier påvisar att det finns en inverkan. Pålitlighet visar sig från tidigare studier ha en varierande stabilitet. I följd av detta har vi utformat syftet:  Syftet med vår studie är att skapa en ökad förståelse över servicekvalitetsdimensionen pålitlighet och dess bidragande faktor till nöjda kundupplevelser inom konsumentservice. Metod: Studien genomförs med ett deduktivt förhållningssätt med en kvantitativ forskningsmetod. Forskningsdesignen följer en tvärsnittsdesign på grund av studien, med utgångspunkt ska kunna utnyttja surveyundersökningar, det vill säga enkäter. Studiens resultat analyseras i SPSS, där det utförts en deskriptiv statistik och korrelationsanalys, samt i Excel där det genomförts olika sammanställningar av enkätsvaren. Detta följs av studiens egen analys, resultat, diskussion och slutsats.  Resultat & Slutsats: Studiens resultat tyder på att servicedimensionen pålitlighet har ett positivt samband och inverkan på kundnöjdhet inom frisörbranschen. Samtidigt har konsumenters behov en betydelsefull inverkan på pålitlighet och kundnöjdhet, såsom upplevelse, pris och trygghet. Om dessa faktorer uppfylls av tjänsteutövaren kommer en positiv nivå av kundnöjdhet uppstå. Examensarbetets bidrag: Studien bidrar med ökad kunskap om servicekvalitets dimensionen pålitlighets påverkan till nöjda kundupplevelser inom frisörbranschen. Jämfört med tidigare studier som fokuserat på servicekvalitet i sin helhet riktat mot kundnöjdhet. I och med tidigare studiers helhetöversikt, kan denna studie ge en mer ingående beskrivning om en servicekvalitets dimension och dessutom nämna vilka parametrar som är av vikt vid uppfyllandet av kundnöjdhet.  Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Studien påvisar avgränsningar genom att enbart rikta sig mot en kvalitetsdimension och frisörbranschen. Förslag till vidare forskning är att undersöka en annan dimension än pålitlighet för att se huruvida de kan bidra till nöjda kundupplevelser. Ett annat förslag kan vara att undersöka samma dimension med en annan bransch, för att se likheter och skillnader branscher sinsemellan. / Aim: Customer satisfaction occurs in different levels when a consumer makes a service purchase. The quality of service is important in the fulfilling of consumers needs and wishes. There are ten different dimensions of service quality, including reliability. However, reliability have been criticized in various occasions and depending on the industry. A previous research results have shown us that reliability doesn’t have a major impact on customer satisfaction, but other research has shown that there is an extensive impact. Reliability has a varying stability and therefore this study intends to investigate the following:  The aim of this study is to create an increased understanding of the service quality dimension reliability and its attributes to customer satisfaction experience within consumer service.  Method: The study is followed by a deductive approach from a quantitative research method. The research design follows by a cross-sectional design due the basis of being able to use surveys. The study’s results are analyzed in SPSS, such as descriptive statistic and correlation analysis. The study also used excel to do some various compilations of the survey responses. This is followed by the study’s own analysis, results, discussion, and conclusion.  Result & Conclusion: The study’s results indicate that reliability has a positive relationship and an impact on customer satisfaction in the barber industry. At the same time, consumer requirement has a significant impact on reliability and customer satisfaction. These requirements are experience, price and comfort. If these factors are fulfilled by the service provider, a positive level of customer satisfaction will show.  Contribution of the thesis: This study contributes an increased knowledge about reliabilities impact on customer satisfaction experience in the barber industry. Compared with previous research who has been focused on the service quality entirety impact for the customer satisfaction. With previous studies overall view, this study can provide a more detailed description on one service quality dimension and also mention which parameters that are important in fulfilling the customer satisfaction.  Suggestions for future research: This study has limitations by focusing only on one quality dimension of the barber industry. Suggestions for further research are to examine another dimension, to see if they can contribute to better customer satisfaction experiences. Another suggestion might be to examine the same dimension in another industries, to see similarities and differences between industries.

The New Zealand hospitality sector has become increasingly competitive in the past decade. The increase in competition has prompted motel management to focus on generating favourable customers’ perceptions of their service as favourable perceptions encourage repeat purchase. Strategically, retaining existing customers and attracting new customers will be critical if motels are going to remain profitable in New Zealand’s competitive accommodation market. There is a conceptual gap in the marketing literature as there has been very limited published research on service quality, value, customer satisfaction or behavioural intentions on the motel industry. This study seeks to fill this conceptual gap in the motel industry by identifying the dimensions of service quality, and empirically examining the interrelationships among the service quality dimensions, service quality, value, customer satisfaction, and behavioural intentions. The findings of this study are based on the analysis of a sample of 349 respondents who stayed at a full service New Zealand motel on Riccarton Road in Christchurch. Of the 600 questionnaires distributed, a total of 349 useable responses were returned resulting in a 58.2% useable response rate. Support was found for use of the primary dimensions: Interaction Quality, Physical Environment Quality, and Outcome Quality as broad dimensions of service quality in a hierarchical factor structure for motels. Ten sub-dimensions of service quality, as perceived by motel customers, were determined using focus group interviews and exploratory factor analysis. These ten sub-dimensions were: (1) Staff Professionalism, (2) Accuracy of Reservation, (3) Tangibles, (4) Cleanliness and Comfort, (5) Noise Level, (5) Parking, (7) Security, (8) Accuracy of Billing, (9) Location, and (10) Pleasant Stay. Support for the hypothesised paths between Service Quality, Value (price), Satisfaction, and Favourable Behavioural Intentions was confirmed. The results of the regression analysis make a contribution to the service marketing theory by providing an empirically based insight into the Service Quality construct in the motel industry. The study also provides a framework for understanding the effects of the three primary dimensions on Service Quality and how Service Quality affects Value (price), Satisfaction, and Favourable Behavioural Intentions. Value (price) was also empirically supported as an important predictor variable that has a moderating effect on the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction.

The issue of behavioural intentions has attracted the attention of hotel marketers and academics because favourable behavioural intentions help hotels to retain customers. The marketing literature has identified that service quality, perceived value, image, customer satisfaction and demographic variables are significant determinants of behavioural intentions. This suggests that behavioural intentions are a multi-dimensional concept. Despite the importance of behavioural intentions, there is limited research on this construct in the hotel industry. The aim of this research was to gain an empirical understanding of behavioural intentions in the Taiwan hotel sector. A multi-level model was used as a framework for the analysis. The dimensions of service quality as perceived by hotel customers were identified through the literature review and focus group discussions. Hypotheses were formulated and tested to examine the interrelationships between behavioural intentions, service quality, customer satisfaction, perceived value and image, and to determine if perceived value plays a moderating role between service quality and customer satisfaction. Finally, customer perceptions of these constructs were compared based on demographic factors such as age, gender and income. The findings of this study were based on the analysis of a sample of 580 customers who had stayed at a five-star hotel in Kaohsiung City of Taiwan. Support was found for the use of a multi-level model and the primary dimensions: Interaction Quality, Physical Environment Quality and Outcome Quality, as broad dimensions of service quality. The 12 sub-dimensions of service quality, as perceived by hotel customers, were identified. These were: Employees’ Conduct, Employees’ Expertise, Employees’ Problem-Solving, Customer-to-Customer Interaction, Décor & Ambience, Room Quality, Availability of Facility, Design, Location, Valence, Waiting Time and Sociability. The results indicated that each of the primary dimensions varied in terms of their importance to overall perceived service quality, as did the sub-dimensions of the primary dimensions. In addition, the statistical results supported a relationship between perceived value and service quality, image and service quality, customer satisfaction, perceived value, image and service quality, and behavioural intentions, image and customer satisfaction. The results also revealed that customer perceptions of the constructs were primarily affected by their purpose of travel and occupation. The results contribute to the services marketing theory by providing an empirically based insight into the service quality, perceived value, image, customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions constructs in the Taiwan hotel industry. This research also provides an analytical framework for understanding the effects of the three primary dimensions on service quality and the effect of service quality on constructs, such as, perceived value, image, customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions. This study will assist the management of the hotel industry to develop and implement a market-oriented service strategy in order to achieve a high quality of service, upgrade customers’ levels of satisfaction, and create favourable future behavioural intentions.

O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a identificação dos atributos e das dimensões da qualidade dos serviços prestados pelos laboratórios acreditados ou em processo de acreditação da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), sob a perspectiva das empresas-cliente que utilizam estes serviços. A operacionalização da pesquisa realizou-se, inicialmente, por meio de um estudo qualitativo de caráter exploratório, com aplicação de dezesseis entrevistas individuais, com uma abordagem semi-estruturada, mediante a aplicação de um roteiro de questões. Com base nos atributos identificados na pesquisa qualitativa, foi elaborado um questionário estruturado, o qual foi aplicado a 160 empresas, resultando em um total de 147 casos válidos. Por meio da análise fatorial, o conjunto de 28 atributos foi agrupado em sete dimensões de análise ou fatores, que representam um índice de explicação de 70,32% da variação dos dados originais. Além disso, por meio da regressão linear múltipla foi possível explicar 64,7% da satisfação geral das empresas-cliente em função de apenas sete atributos. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-22T17:50:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Fernanda Lazzari.pdf: 737983 bytes, checksum: 94518f44e2ed10fc15d8e94b4a4d7ce1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-22T17:50:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Fernanda Lazzari.pdf: 737983 bytes, checksum: 94518f44e2ed10fc15d8e94b4a4d7ce1 (MD5) / This work presents a study on the quality attributes and dimensions of the services offered by the accredited laboratories or in accreditation process of the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), on a company based perspective. The operationalization of the research was done thru the application of sixteen individual interviews, with a semi-structured approach. With the identification of the attributes in a qualitative process, was elaborated a structured questionnaire, which was applied in 160 companies, resulting in 147 valid cases. In factorial analysis, 28 attributes were grouped into seven analysis dimensions or factors, which represent an explication factor of 70,32% of variation from the original data. Furthermore, by means multiple linear regression, it was possible to explain a 64,7% general satisfaction index of the companies only with these seven attributes.

O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a identificação dos atributos e das dimensões da qualidade dos serviços prestados pelos laboratórios acreditados ou em processo de acreditação da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), sob a perspectiva das empresas-cliente que utilizam estes serviços. A operacionalização da pesquisa realizou-se, inicialmente, por meio de um estudo qualitativo de caráter exploratório, com aplicação de dezesseis entrevistas individuais, com uma abordagem semi-estruturada, mediante a aplicação de um roteiro de questões. Com base nos atributos identificados na pesquisa qualitativa, foi elaborado um questionário estruturado, o qual foi aplicado a 160 empresas, resultando em um total de 147 casos válidos. Por meio da análise fatorial, o conjunto de 28 atributos foi agrupado em sete dimensões de análise ou fatores, que representam um índice de explicação de 70,32% da variação dos dados originais. Além disso, por meio da regressão linear múltipla foi possível explicar 64,7% da satisfação geral das empresas-cliente em função de apenas sete atributos. / This work presents a study on the quality attributes and dimensions of the services offered by the accredited laboratories or in accreditation process of the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), on a company based perspective. The operationalization of the research was done thru the application of sixteen individual interviews, with a semi-structured approach. With the identification of the attributes in a qualitative process, was elaborated a structured questionnaire, which was applied in 160 companies, resulting in 147 valid cases. In factorial analysis, 28 attributes were grouped into seven analysis dimensions or factors, which represent an explication factor of 70,32% of variation from the original data. Furthermore, by means multiple linear regression, it was possible to explain a 64,7% general satisfaction index of the companies only with these seven attributes.

The master thesis deals with data quality in the context of open and linked data. One of the goals is to define specifics of data quality in this context. The specifics are perceived mainly with orientation to data quality dimensions (i. e. data characteristics which we study in data quality) and possibilities of their measurement. The thesis also defines the effect on data quality that is connected with data transformation to linked data; the effect if defined with consideration to possible risks and benefits that can influence data quality. The list of metrics verified on real data (open linked data published by government institution) is composed for the data quality dimensions that are considered to be relevant in context of open and linked data. The thesis points to the need of recognition of differences that are specific in this context when assessing and managing data quality. At the same time, it offers possibilities for further study of this question and it presents subsequent directions for both theoretical and practical evolution of the topic.

Marine biotoxins constitute one of the major hazards associated with seafood consumption. Risk assessments are essential for the effective management of problems arising from marine biotoxins occurrence, as they are a prerequisite for the establishment or periodic re-evaluation of marine biotoxins regulatory limits and for the adoption of appropriate risk management plans. Risk assessments are science-based data-intensive processes, and their successful outcomes are largely dependent on the quality of data used when they are carried out. In fact, data-related challenges are the most frequently reported issues rendering most marine biotoxins’ risk assessments conducted to date as inconclusive. Notably, data quality perceptions among the stakeholders involved in risk assessments may vary significantly, which may be a human factor influencing data quality. As such, the problem addressed in this thesis is the shortage of empirical information on how data quality is perceived by the different stakeholder roles involved in risk assessments relevant to marine biotoxins hazards. The focus of this thesis is thus to investigate the perceptions of diverse stakeholders within the information chain, namely data producers, collectors and consumers/users, regarding the quality of data used in risk assessments of marine biotoxins hazards, to provide a contribution directed towards data quality improvement. This was done by means of a survey, gathering data through interviewing a number of recognized marine biotoxins’ experts with documented experience in risk assessments. The research question of this study is: “What are the perceptions of data quality among diverse stakeholders along the information chain relevant to marine biotoxins’ risk assessments?” To answer the research question, the concept of data quality for marine biotoxins data destined for risk assessments was dissected into seven individual subtopics on which the perceptions of expert participants of all three roles were captured. The subtopics explored included: data quality challenges; changes in marine biotoxins data quality during the last decade; awareness on data quality legislation and standardization; importance of data quality dimensions, objectives and key performance indicators; importance of data quality-related feedback exchange between stakeholders of the relevant information chain; factors for successful adoption of harmonized standardized formats for marine biotoxins data collection; and suggestions for data quality improvement. The perceptions gathered per subtopic were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, yielding a total of twelve themes, namely communication, compound, data/quality control, Information Technology or Data Collection Framework, legislation, method, organization, people, policy, risk assessment procedure, society/environment and toxicological aspects, with each subtopic containing items categorized within several of these themes. Certain differences were observed in the perceptions between participants of diverse data roles, in the sense that data producers and to a lesser extent data users mostly focused on themes relevant to analytical methodology, compound particularities, data and quality control, toxicological aspects and policies. On the other hand, data collectors’ views were more concentrated on items relevant to Information Technology or Data Collection Framework and organization. It is noted, however, that interpretation of these trends needs to consider that in many of the study participants different roles overlapped in the same person. This indicates that results should be cautiously generalized. Nevertheless, they could constitute a basis for further research to generate deeper knowledge in the field of data quality in risk assessments relevant to marine biotoxins and gain further insights on the differences in perceptions among data roles.

The dissertation aims to obtain an integrated and comprehensive perspective on measurement issues that play a strategic role in organisations that aim at continuous quality improvement through TQM. The multidimensional definition of quality is proposed to view quality holistically. The definition is dynamic, thus dimensions are subject to evolution. Measurement of the quality dimensions is investigated. The relationship between quality and cost, productivity and profitability respectively is examined. The product quality dimensions are redefined for processes. Measurement is a strategic component ofTQM. Integration of financial measures with supplier-; customer-; performance- and internal process measurement is essential for synergism. Measurement of quality management is an additional strategic quality dimension. Applicable research was integrated. Quantitative structures used successfully in industry to achieve quality improvement is important, thus the quality management maturity grid, cleanroom software engineering, software factories, quality function deployment, benchmarking and the ISO 9000 standards are briefly described. Software Metrics Programs are considered to be an application of a holistic measurement approach to quality. Two practical approaches are identified. A framework for initiating implementation is proposed. Two strategic software measurement issues are reliability and cost estimation. Software reliability measurement and modelling are introduced. A strategic approach to software cost estimation is suggested. The critical role of data collection is emphasized. Different approaches to implement software cost estimation in organisations are proposed. A total installed cost template as the ultimate goal is envisaged. An overview of selected software cost estimation models is provided. Potential research areas are identified. The linearity/nonlinearity nature of the software production function is analysed. The synergy between software cost estimation models and project management techniques is investigated. The quantification aspects of uncertainty in activity durations, pertaining to project scheduling, are discussed. Statistical distributions for activity durations are reviewed and compared. A structural view of criteria determining activity duration distribution selection is provided. Estimation issues are reviewed. The integration of knowledge from dispersed fields leads to new dimensions of interaction. Research and practical experience regarding software metrics and software metrics programs can be successfully applied to address the measurement of strategic indicators in other industries. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Operations Research)