For several decades, the government of the Netherlands is trying to implement so-called basic records (Dutch: basisregistraties). The idea is that original information on key objects in society is registered only once. With better guarantees for quality, such common, even standard information should subsequently be available for reuse throughout the public sector.
Success has so far been elusive, though. […] Especially what basic is taken to mean, often implicitly, is shown as a misconception under conditions of networked interactions with characteristic variety.
Singular meaning is clearly insufficient, even harmful, for supporting variety. For semantic interoperability, it should be recognized that differences are really basic. Otherwise, failures continue to accumulate.

in: Basispuzzel met stelselmatige registerstukjes

 

The general point for identity management is that a system of registration is always a sign in its own right, too.

in: Semiotics of identity management

 

One way of appreciating Metapattern is that data is increasingly distributed while the requirements for coordination also increase. So, data persists. And it does in various places, to be subsequently coordinated. Then, for most practical business and government purposes performance is not really an issue (for selected information, computers and telecommunications are 'fast enough,' anyway). Another vital consideration is that a limited set of primitives can no longer be counted upon to carry meaning throughout the larger system of connected databases etc. At the assembly/model level, the emphasis of optimization shifts to unambiguously appointing contexts.

in: On metapattern and other themes in information management

 

What is at stake generally is information. And context should be integrally reckoned with for information, context being — registered as — information, too.

in: note 53.6

 

As it is operational people who do the registering, it is only operationally useful information, i.e. information they will use themselves, that gets reliably registered. Given the right explanation (and support), they really don’t mind other people also using it, that is, making additions, subtractions, multiplications, whatever, but the ingredients for analysis et cetera should be kept strictly operationally relevant.

in: note 53.20

 

You are interested in getting an overview of information, also call it data. There is ‘something’ about which information might be distributed across a variety of digital storages, each of such databases most likely having been set up independently at some time and place or other.
You need to identify such a ‘something,’ or ‘whatever,’ at the scale of what your aiming at for integrated order. Actually, there may be different types of ‘something’ you are after for improved coordination.
For example, an airline should want to track engine parts. When, and here I am just thinking of ‘something’ off the top of my head, the requirement is that an engine part of some type should be replaced every x hours of engine operation time, should then be overhauled, and only be replaced in some engine after overhauling (and testing), for compliance with such rules information from on-board systems and systems for the maintenance shops must be brought together.
Of course, almost everywhere it is person as a ‘something’ about which information is kept all over. […] With persons, it is even evident that there are — more — regulations to comply with. The European Union now has General Data Protection Regulation. Anyway, using an information roundabout you have to comply with whatever regulation holds for the ‘something’ in question. But then, an information roundabout can also be the means you need to monitor et cetera compliance.

in: note 71.14

 

[S]trictly conceptually there should be no difference in modeling for operational information systems on the one side and for a so-called data warehouse on the other; eventually, no separate data warehouse is required.

in: note 71.25

 

[It] lead[s] up to an already more comprehensive conceptual model of facilitating integrated order where — physical — information resources (primarily read here: databases) constitute a federation. I believe such an organization, i.e., as a federation, to be unavoidable, and therefore necessary; there is no way that all pertinent information can be available in a single — physical — database. On the contrary, I would argue that the pervasive means for instantaneous digital communication promote distribution of information resources.

in: note 71.37