In order to fully realise the value of open data researchers must first address the quality of the datasets

There has been a phenomenal increase in the availability of data over the last decade. Open data is provided as a means of empowering users with information and in the hope of sparking innovation and increased efficiency in governments and businesses. However, in spite of the many success stories based on the open data paradigm, concerns remain over the quality of such datasets. Marta Indulska and Shazia Sadiq argue that in order to facilitate more effective and efficient realisation of value from open data, research must reach a shared consensus on the definition of data quality dimensions, provide methods and guidelines for assessing the potential usefulness of open datasets using exploratory tools and techniques, and develop rigorous theoretical underpinnings on effective use of open data.