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COLLNET Journal of Scientometrics and Information Management cover

COLLNET Journal of Scientometrics and Information Management

(Since 2007)
Open Access ·Peer-reviewed·ISSN (Online): 2168-930X·ISSN (Print): 0973-7766

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Half-Yearly Journal: Publishes research and articles on scientometrics and information management, including bibliometric analysis and quality assurance models.

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COLLNET Journal of Scientometrics and Information Management
Open Access Research Article

80/20 law in Information Production Processes (IPPs)

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pp. 197–214Vol. 19Issue 2December 2025DOI: 10.47974/CJSIM-2025-01003XML
Published Online:
17 Dec 2025
Article type:
Research Article
Language:
EN
Article no.:
CJSIM-2025-01003
Pages:
197–214

Abstract

Information Production Processes (IPPs) like source-item systems possess several properties. Skewness is one property that makes indicators such as h-type indicators relevant for determining key sources that produced the majority of items. Due to this skewness, the 80/20 rule (in which the top 80 percent of items may be produced by the top 20 percent of the sources) also is at play in IPPs. In this work, we investigate whether any of the major existing h-type indicators are capable of reflecting the 80/20 rule effectively. Also, can considering 20% of T (total publications) or 0.2T as an indicator, provide a better alternative? Or is there a room for new indicator or perhaps a new law? These questions are answered in this work. The implications and potential uses of the most suitable base indicator for scientometric applications, especially for science, technology and innovation (STI) management and for applications outside the realm of scientometrics are discussed.

Keywords

80/20 lawInformation Production Processes (IPPs)Skewnessh-type indicatorsIdeal indicatory-index

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