A leading academic journal has published the research of UALR’s Dr. Rolf Wigand proposing a Common Information Model for electronic documents and mapping software in the European Union.

Wigand and several colleagues from other universities say the goal is to improve taxation and customs systems across EU nations.

Their article stems from a $7.5 million European Union-funded research project of more than four years called “Information Technology for Adoption and Intelligent Design for E-Government.”

The model requires new public-private partnerships between government and private businesses that enhance security and controls. The model employs intelligent software tools to reduce administrative loads, according to Wigand.

“One of the great challenges for European governments is solving the paradox of increasing the security of international trade, while simultaneously reducing overhead for commercial as well as public administrations,” Wigand said.

Finding the right balance between control and cost of information gathering is the key to increase competitiveness of European businesses locally, nationally and internationally, he added.

“To encourage the adoption of these redesigned procedures, a truly collaborative co-design process that creates win-win benefits for all stakeholders, is essential,” Wigand concluded.

Wigand wrote “Understanding transnational information systems with supranational governance: A multi-level conflict management perspective” with co-authors Boriana Rukanova, Eveline van Stijn, and Yao-Hua Tan.

The article is published in the journal “Government Information Quarterly,” freely available from the publisher until June 15.

Wigand is the Maulden-Entergy Chair and Distinguished Professor Emeritus for the Departments of Information Science and Business Information Systems at UALR.