USING INTERDEPENDENCE AS A PREDICTOR OF DATA STANDARDS - THEORETICAL AND MEASUREMENT ISSUES

The standardization of data semantics (definitions, names, identifiers , domains, and constraints) across organizational units and systems is one means of coordinating the activities of these units. Since the ne ed for subunit coordination is considered a function of the level of i nterdependence among subunits, many authors have hypothesized a positi ve relationship between subunit interdependence and the use of semanti c standards. Empirically testing this relationship revealed two surpri sing results, First, commonly used operational definitions of interdep endence from previous research were found to measure different dimensi ons and hence could not be used interchangeably. Second, no relationsh ip between any of the operational definitions of subunit interdependen ce and the use of data standards was found. These findings lead us to believe that more precise conceptualizations of interdependence and be tter models of the tradeoffs between standardization and alternative m eans of dealing with inconsistent data semantics are required to bette r understand how investments in standardized data impact organizationa l outcomes.