Attributes of Information

EXAMPLES
 Overview

Information Systems help companies achieve their

goals.

How do they do it?

1. By processing raw data into information

2. IS can add value to information by enhancing the
attributes (11 of them).
 11 Attributes of Information

Usability Delivery
Timely
Relevant Accessible
Simple Secure
Flexible
Economical Quality
• Accurate
• Verifiable
• Complete
• Reliable
 Information Spectrum

Data  processing  Information

Information  intelligence  Knowledge
Knowledge  experience  Wisdom
 Often confused

My calculator always does multiplication correctly in

never makes an error. My calculator is
__________
 What attribute is described?
However, I dropped it in the sink and sometimes it
won’t turn on.
My calculation is not _________
 What attribute is described?
 Accuracy vs. Reliability

Accuracy – true, free from error

 Precision – refers to the level of accuracy
 1/3 = 1.333 is accurate
 1/3 = 1.333333 is more precise
Reliability – in IS, it refers to how often
information is accurate.
 An information source could be error free but might not work
all the time.
 Weather Forecasting

Are weather-persons
 reliable,
 accurate,
 both, or
 neither?
 Accurate vs. Reliable

Weatherman A can predict tomorrows temperature

to the exact degree
 but only 40% of the time.
 other 60% he cannot interpret the raw data
Weatherman B can predict tomorrows temperature
but it may be off by 5 degrees
 But, his system works 95% of the time
Who is more accurate?
Who is more reliable?
 TPS – transaction processing system

I put the TPS reports on the website so everyone can

access them.
 This makes the TPS reports more ________.

The TPS reports are PDF files which cannot be

modifed easily, so we also provide the TPS data in
standard XML format which can be converted to any
other format.
 The XML format is more ___________.
 Some attributes are enemies!

My student evaluation report includes 23 answers

from all 31 students. Its hard for me to tell if my
evaluations are good or bad, but at least the data is
__________.
The student evaluation report includes only my
average score, which is very _______ and easy to
interpret, but I’d like all the data.
 Examples Stories

Water Testing
GE PCB Dredging
1930’s stock tips
 Fun Article

http://www.walletpop.com/2010/12/29/disney-
world-unveils-plans-to-reduce-wait-time/