1. Characteristics and Sources of Information

2. Data and Information Distinction between data and information
Data (input)– recorded raw facts without meaning
Process – something which changes data into information
Information (output) – something which has meaning to the recipient which can be used for decision making
Type of information
Qualitative – Subjective and personal (opinions)
Quantitative – factual data (M/F)
Primary – data collected first hand eg survey
Secondary – data collected previously from other sources eg internet

3. Characteristics Characteristics of good information
Valid – has it been checked and not biased
Reliable – trust worthy, checked with other sources
Timely – at the time needed for a decision
Fit-for-purpose – is it right for the client’s needs
Accessible – easy to find and use (if allowed)
Cost-effective – do the benefits outweigh the cost
sufficiently accurate – without error
Relevant – to the decision being made
Having the right level of detail for the right person
From a source in which the user has confidence
Understandable by the user

4. Processing Transformation of data into information through
Collection – how, where, purpose, validated
Storage - files paper or electronic
Processing and manipulation – query, calculate, edit
Retrieval - from storage into required format for presentation
Presentation – output on screen or printout eg report, letter, graphical image

5. Sources of information
Where does the data come from eg verbal, books, electroinc databases, internet
Must be a reliable source
Internal (within the organisation)
Financial – income, expenditure
Personnel – Human Resource – personal and employment details
Marketing – product definition, adverts, customer surveys
Purchasing – records of supplies and purchases
Sales – who sold to, when, date
Manufacturing – resources and timescales to produce products
Administration – data production tasks – reports, letters, communications
External
Government – legal boundaries eg TAX and legislation
trade groupings – boundaries and etiquette of business trade
commercially provided databases – publically accessible or purchased
Research – ask the right person, links within industry
reliability of data sources – how established are they