Title: Where is the value in metadata?

Authors: Miltiadis D. Lytras, Miguel-Angel Sicilia

Addresses: Department of Management Science and Technology, Athens University of Economics and Business, 47A Evelpidon Str., 113 62, Athens, Greece. ' Computer Science Department, University of Alcala, Ctra. Barcelona, km. 33.6 – 28871, Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Metadata can be defined as structured data about an object that supports some function(s) related to that object described. Thus, the functions enabled by metadata are the key to cost-justifying metadata creation and management efforts. However, the functions of metadata are diverse, and also the kinds of organisations that typically create and use metadata. This results in different possible accounts of the concept of |metadata value|. This paper explores typical cases of organisations using metadata and then explores how metadata as an organisational asset can be framed in the existing Information Systems (IS) theories.

Keywords: metadata management; metadata value; information systems; cost-benefit analysis; justification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSO.2007.019442

International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies, 2007 Vol.2 No.4, pp.235 - 241

Published online: 11 Jul 2008 *

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