Data And Info Management Concepts

Question 1

What is data?

Answer 1

Data are raw, unorganized facts and figures that need to be processed. Data can be something simple and seemingly random unless until it is organized.

Question 2

What is information?

Answer 2

Information is useful data that has been organized, structured and presented in a given context.

Question 3

Name the types of data.

Answer 3

Unstructured and structured data.
Transactional and master data.

Question 4

What is structured data?

Answer 4

This is sometimes known as traditional data which mainly has text files that are well organized.

It has clearly defined data types which are easy to search and analyze.

Question 5

What is unstructured data?

Answer 5

It is everything else data that is usually not searchable these are formats like audio, video and social media postings.

Question 6

Difference between structured and unstructured data.

Answer 6

S is clearly defined and searchable whilst U is stored in its actual form.
S is quantitative whilst U is qualitative.
S is stored in data warehouses while U is stored in data lakes.
S data is easy to search and analyze while U data requires more work to process and understand.
S data exists in predefined formats while U data is in a variety of formats.

Question 7

What is Transactional data?

Answer 7

This is data relating to day to day transactions.

Question 8

What is master data?

Answer 8

This is data that remains unchanged over a period of time. It is key business info that supports the transactions.

Question 9

Info key concepts ?

Answer 9

Data that has been processed to be meaningful.
Data processed for a purpose.
Data that has been interpreted and understood by the recipient.

Question 10

Qualities of good info?

Answer 10

Must be concise
Must be provided in a timely manner
Must be communicated to the right person
Must be communicated via right channel
Must be less costly than value provided
Must be relevant
Must be clear
Must be sufficient accuracy
Must be complete
Must be trustworthy

Question 11

Roles of data and info in the organization?

Answer 11

Planning
A business needs to know the resources it has.
Info about the markets in which it operates and actions of competitors.

Controlling
Info is needed to help identify wether things are going better or worse and spot how things can be corrected.

Measuring
Info is used to measure performance

Decision making
Strategic, tactical and operational.

Question 12

What is strategic information?

Answer 12

Used to help plan the gleams of the business as a whole and how they are being achieved.
E.g Profits, size, growth and competition and investments.

Question 13

What is tactical information?

Answer 13

How the resources of the business are being used.
Info about business productivity
Profits and cash flow in short terms
Pricing info

Question 14

What is operational info?

Answer 14

This information makes sure that specific tasks are carried out the way they are supposed to (As Planned)

Question 15

What is Info management?

Answer 15

This is the management of organizational processes and systems that acquire, create, organize, distribute, and use information.

It is the function of planning, controlling, and delivering data effectively in an organization.

Question 16

What is involved in info management?

Answer 16

Practicing disciplines in development
Execution
Supervision of plans and programs
Policies and practices that protect, control, deliver and enhance the quality and value of data information in the organization.

Question 17

Benefits to of info management.

Answer 17

Efficiency improvements
Protection from data related problems and risks.
Data quality improvement
Minimized errors

Question 18

Consequences of poor data and info management?

Answer 18

Data redundancy
Data inconsistency
Poor availability of data
Poor data security
Error prone data

Question 19

What is the data life cycle?

Answer 19

This is the sequence of life stages that a particular unit of data goes through from it’s initial generation to its archival or deletion at the end of it’s useful life.

Question 20

Elements of data life cycle?

Answer 20

Acquisition: process of recording or generating a concrete artifact from the concept.
Curation: maintains value and making sure data is available for discovery and reuse in the future.
Preservation: retaining usability of data in some source for intended and unintended use.

Question 21

Data Processing

Answer 21

Data is processed prior to it’s use.
It involves tasks such as movement, integration, cleansing, enrichment, and the extract transform load processes.

Question 22

Data Analysis

Answer 22

Interpretation of data so useful data can be extracted.

Question 23

Data Usage/Data publish

Answer 23

Data used to support the org’s objectives and operations.

Question 24

Data Archival

Answer 24

Data is removed from production environments. It is no longer processed, used or published but stored in case needed again in the future.

Question 25

Data purging and reuse

Answer 25

Purging: every copy of data is deleted already archived data.
Reuse: Archived data reused in other tables or systems.

Question 26

Info management cycle

Answer 26

Identification of information needs
Acquisition and creation of information
Analysis and interpretation of information
Organization and storage of information
Information access and dissemination
Information use.

Question 27

Info Systems

Answer 27

Information tools are the tools used in order to manage information.

Information systems is the process of and tools for storing, managing, using and gathering of data and communications in an organization.