1. Bridging perceived and actual data quality : automating the framework for governance reliabilityTomaž Podobnikar, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The discrepancy between perceived and actual data quality, shaped by stakeholders’ interpretations of technical specifications, poses significant challenges in governance, impacting decision-making and stakeholder trust. To address this, we introduce an automated data quality management (DQM) framework, implemented through the NRPvalid toolkit, as a standalone solution incorporating over 100 assessment tools. This framework strengthens data quality evaluation and stakeholder collaboration by systematically bridging subjective perceptions with objective quality metrics. Unlike traditional producer–user models, it accounts for complex, multi-stakeholder interactions to improve data governance. Applied to planned land use (PLU) data, the framework significantly reduces discrepancy, as quantified by error score metrics, and directly enhances building permit issuance by streamlining interactions among administrative units, municipalities, and investors. By evaluating, refining, and seamlessly integrating spatial data into the enterprise spatial information system, this scalable, automated solution supports constant data quality improvement. The DQM and its toolkit have been widely adopted, promoting transparent, reliable, and efficient geospatial data governance. Keywords: perceived and actual data quality, data quality management, DQM, quality assurance/quality control, QA/QC, spatial data quality, data quality standards, data governance, planned land use, automation, uncertainty management, geospatial Published in ReVIS: 14.04.2025; Views: 301; Downloads: 1
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2. A framework for bridging perceived and actual quality through automation : strengthening data reliability and governanceTomaž Podobnikar, 2025, other component parts Abstract: Following spatial data capture, stakeholders often invest significant resources to meet technical specifications. This challenge arises largely from varying interpretations of established standards, resulting in data that fails to meet the requirements for ingestion into the enterprise geospatial ecosystem. A key issue lies in the discrepancy between perceived data quality – how stakeholders understand or interpret the performance of the data, which is aligned with technical specifications – and actual data quality, which reflects objective performance when properly measured. The proposed data quality management (DQM) framework addresses this discrepancy by focusing on key aspects of spatial data quality, with an automated program playing a central role in bridging this divide. The framework enhances stakeholder communication and significantly improves the reliability of data governance by providing a comprehensive evaluation of data quality. This evaluation with the outputs combining error presentation through statistics, georeferenced files, and visualization enables rapid interpretation and error resolution. When applied to planned land use (PLU) data, this solution improved efficiency, enhanced overall data quality, and ensured seamless integration into the enterprise Spatial information system. This resulted in a higher level of maturity in data quality management. Keywords: quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), continuous process improvement, spatial data quality, data steward, data governance, planned land use data, perceived vs. actual data quality, geospatial, data quality management (DQM), uncertainty management Published in ReVIS: 14.04.2025; Views: 348; Downloads: 2
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3. Improving governance in mandatory defined-contribution pension funds : case study of CroatiaPetar-Pierre Matek, 2018, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Demographic changes and other socio-economic factors put a strain on pension systems around the world. Developed countries are particularly affected by population aging and generous existing pay-as-you-go schemes. To achieve a more sustainable pension system, many countries introduced defined-contribution pension plans. The World Bank, which took a leading role in conceptual and operational aspects of pension reforms worldwide, provided support to many countries, including Croatia, in the implementation of its three-pillar model. At the same time, Anglo-Saxon countries witnessed a dramatic shift from defined-benefit to defined-contribution pension schemes. As a result, employees are bearing investment risk, meaning that their pension benefits directly depend on the investment performance of pension plans invested in capital markets. Consequently, issues related to the governance of defined-contribution pension plans have become a matter of concern for researchers and regulators worldwide. The main questions are: (1) whether a governance system can be created that will work for the benefit of fund members and (2) where should policy makers and pension supervisors focus their efforts. Because asset management is characterised by significant conflicts of interest and low observability of money managers% actions, agency theory provides an excellent theoretical framework for the research of governance issues in second pillar pension funds. It helps in identifying the stakeholders, describing their relationships and identifying where their interests are not aligned. Most importantly, it provides a framework for identifying the most suitable control mechanisms to curb conflicts of interest. Theory suggests that behaviour-based control mechanisms will be best adapted in the case of pension funds. Of importance are: (1) internal governance structure and mechanisms, including third-party monitors, (2) regulation and supervision and (3) duties and liabilities of the governing body. The definition of investment performance benchmarks is the most obvious outcome-based control mechanism. Information systems have an important role in increasing the monitoring capacity of stakeholders. Theory suggests that third-party monitoring, such as supervision by public agencies, is particularly important, because pension funds are characterised by a failure of market control mechanisms. In addition, the interpretation of money managers% fiduciary duties by courts of justice will have an extremely important impact on the credibility of regulatory and supervisory efforts. Legislation plays a leading role in the design of control-mechanisms. This is particularly the case in civil law jurisdictions that opted for a highly prescriptive approach to regulation. The case study of the Croatian second pillar pension funds is based on an analysis of the Croatian Act on Mandatory Pension Funds and its comparative analysis with the OECD Core Principles of Private Pension Regulation, the UCITS Directive and the IORP II Directive. It breaks down the provisions of these legislative acts and standards along the lines of the framework provided by the agency theory - namely, the information available to fund members, internal governance mechanisms, political pressures and tools available to the regulator (including liability of the managing body). Evidence from the research supports the hypothesis that the Croatian Act on Mandatory Pension Funds addresses in an adequate manner most of the governance issues related to the management of second pillar mandatory pension funds. Nevertheless, some deficiencies were revealed, and a list of recommendations was outlined. The application of agency theory to pension funds and the comparative analysis of legislative documents adds to the body of literature on second pillar pension funds by providing an innovative approach to the issue. It also provides guidelines for regulators introducing defined-contribution pension schemes or trying to improve existing ones. Keywords: pension funds, governance, agency theory, World Bank, pension system, Croatia, doctoral dissertation Published in ReVIS: 12.03.2019; Views: 2742; Downloads: 123
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