IT1 Section A: Data Information and Knowledge - Capabilities and limitations of ICT Flashcards
[4.1.1] what is data and how can it arise?
- raw facts and figures that are meaningless and lack relevance
- can arise from results of an experiment, surveys, output of MIS
[4.1.1] what is information and how can it arise?
- data that has been processed and now has context and meaning
- ict systems covert data into information
[4.1.1] what is knowledge?
-derived from information by applying rules to it
[4.1.1] use appropriate examples to demonstrate the relationship between data, information and knowledge
Data: 15s, 9s, 12s
Information: Runner A ran 15s, Runner B ran 9s, Runner C ran 12s
Knowledge: Run b ran the fastest time in the race so he wins the gold medal
[4.1.1] why is data encoded?
-faster to type in codes than full words
-faster to search
-their will be fewer typing errors when using codes
-greater data consistency
-validation codes can be easily used on codes (format check, range check)
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[4.1.1] what are the problems with encoding data?
Coarsens precision of data
- Ages may be put into categories
- So you have no idea how many people are 18, how many people are 26
Value Judgements
- personal view; subjective rather (biased) than objective (unbiased)
- someone’s good hotel might be another person’s bad hotel
what are the characteristics of good quality information?
Actually, Connie, Understands, Completely, relevant, unions
- accurate
- Correctly targeted
- Understandable
- Complete
- relevant
- Up to date
In Qualities of Good information give the definition and example for accuracy
- definition= data without mistakes
- example= an inaccurate date of birth will have repercussions at the tax office
In Qualities of Good information give the definition and example for correctly targeted
- definition= the question should be targeted at those who are going to use it
- example= it is no good asking vegetarians about meat eating
In Qualities of Good information give the definition and example for understandable
- definition= the meaning of the info should be clear to the user, any abbreviations or codes should be explained
- example= if it is too complicated, it will waste time and people could draw wrong conclusions
In Qualities of Good information give the definition and example for complete
- definition= has to include all the information
- example= letters not having postcodes take longer to deliver
In Qualities of Good information give the definition and example for relevant
- definition= data has to be related to the task you are trying to investigate
- example= there is no point collecting information on ice cream sales in Alaska in the winter if you want to open your kiosk in California
In Qualities of Good information give the definition and example for up-to-date
-definition= information changes with time and without a date stamp it could be too old to be useful example= a travel company would not make much profit from using 10 year old data on holiday patterns to decide this years resorts
what are the ways in which information adds value to organisations?
Always, Mind, The, Gap, Signs
- aids decision making
- monitors progress
- target recourses
- helps to gain competitive advantage
- spot trends
in the value of information for an organisation give the definition and an example for ‘aid decision making’
- definition: to plan future action
- example: if a company owes money information could be used to block their account
in the value of information for an organisation give the definition and an example for ‘monitor progress’
- definition; information obtained to inform decision making
- example; supermarkets monitor the speed and accuracy of their checkout assistants and can then reward reprimand
in the value of information for an organisation give the definition and an example for ‘target recourses’
-definition; advertising and marketing a product should be aimed at people likely to buy
-example: mailshot current owners of expensive new cars about a new expensive cars - not owners of second hand old cars
(targeting the current customer)
in the value of information for an organisation give the definition and an example for ‘gain competitive advantage’
- definition: information about customer’s buying habits is valuable and can lead to a company becoming more profitable
- example: a manufacturer spends money developing anew product because they have seen the gap in the market
in the value of information for an organisation give the definition and an example for ‘spot trends’
definition: analyse sales data and realise when something is out of fashion
example: sales of tape recorders or if one region buys more of something than another.
what are the 3 costs that occur from getting good information?
- financial
- time
- human resources
In the 4 stages of getting good quality information talk about how financial, time and human costs happen
cover, every, pimple, mark
Data Collection; paying a specialist to create forms (human) sheets have to be trialled before proper use (time)
Data Entry; Staff have to type in results of data (time) OMR devices have to be purchased (financial)
Data Processing; New software may have to be purchased (Financial)
Data Maintenance; Staff have to be employed to keep hardware running and modify when legislation changes (financial)
what are the ways in which data error occur? GTPT
- General Input Error
- Transcription error
- Processing Error
- Transmission Error
What is a General Input error? give examples
- e.g Where customers could fill in their data entry form incorrectly
- malfunctioning bar code reader
What is transcription error? Give examples
- Where data is copied wrongly
- e.g a data entry clerk could transpose two numbers in the date of birth
- Misspell a street name
what is a processing error? give examples
- When data has been correctly inputted but the formula is wrong causing calculations to be also incorrect
- e.g if you used a mathematical function that calculates percentage totals and the formula was incorrect and was left undetected, miscalculations would be made every time it was run.
what are Transmission errors? give examples
- Where data can become corrupted as it pass through servers.
- e.g if a network system was being used, the data would have to be transmitted to one client terminal to the server. During this process the data could be lost or corrupted.