CHARACTERISTICS OF

DATA AND INFORMATION

EXPLAIN THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF DATA
AND INFORMATION;

DISTINGUISH AMONG DATA,

INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE;
 What is data?
 Plain facts used for analysis or reference.
 Interpretation is required from a machine or

human being to arrive at a meaning.

OR
 Collection of unprocessed items
Terms associated with data:
 Unprocessed
 Unorganized

 discrete
Types of data:

1. Qualitative
 This is data that approximates the
characteristics, properties, attributes, etc. of a
thing or phenomenon.
 It is opinion based, subjective
 It describes
Types of data cont’d:

2. Quantitative
 This is data that is measurable and verifiable
and is amenable to statistical manipulation.
 It defines
 It is objective
 It deals with numbers
 It uses length, height, area, volume, weight, speed,
time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost,
members, ages, etc.
What is information?
 This is data that has been processed or
organized and presented in a manner that the
underlying meaning is clarified.
 Characteristics of Information:
 Relevance- information that is important to
the decision maker

 Completeness- information that has all the

important facts

 Timeliness- timely information is information

that is available/delivered when it is needed.
Characteristics of Information:
 Reliability- the information can be depended
on.

 Lifespan- nothing will prevent the information

from being used over and over again.

 Availability- is readily accessible.

Characteristics of Information:
 Security- Information is protected from
unauthorized users.

 Value- is something of worth.

 Shareability- can be readily distributed.

Characteristics of Information:
 Distortion- twist to the facts.

 Disguise- cover up something that exists.

 Inconsistency- information steadily follows a

particular trend.
Characteristics of Information:
 Incomprehensibility- does not have a wide
range.

 Subject to interpretation- there is enough room

to assess the information presented.

 Confidentiality- information should be kept

private
INFORMATION AS A
COMMODITY
 information is established as a product or an
item of trade
FORMAT & MEDIUM OF
INFORMATION
 Format- this speaks to how the information is
presented.

 Medium- this speaks to the ways and means

used to disseminate the information.
NATURE & STRUCTURE OF
INFORMATION
NATURE & STRUCTURE OF
INFORMATION
 Strategic-
 Information that comes from the management
level.
 It affects the entire or most of the organization.
NATURE & STRUCTURE OF
INFORMATION
 Tactical-
 Information that comes from middle managers.
 Information for subordinates that will affect the
near or distant future.
NATURE & STRUCTURE OF
INFORMATION
 Operational-
 Information given for immediate perusal.
 Given to a specific group or individual.
STRUCTURED
INFORMATION
 Information that is organized and analyzed
 Information that is placed in fields
SEMI-STRUCTURED
INFORMATION
 Information that is organized in semantic
entities,
 Similar entities are grouped together, entities

in the same group may not have same

attributes.
UNSTRUCTURED
INFORMATION
 Information that does not have a data model.
 Information that has no identifiable structure.
KNOWLEDGE
 This is having an awareness and understanding
of information and how it can be put to use.
 ASSIGNMENT
 Give examples of structured, semi-structured and un-structured
information.
 Why is it important for information to have structure?
 Distinguish among data, information and knowledge
Further Reading
 http://tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_business_infor
mation.htm
 http://www.information-management.com/issues/2
0040901/1009161-1.html?zkPrintable=1&nopagina
tion=1