Stages of the data life cycle

Question 1

What are the stages in the data life cycle?

Answer 1

1. Plan
2. Capture
3. Manage
4. Analyse
5. Archive
6. Destroy

Question 2

Define the Planning stage of the data life cycle

Answer 2

Deciding what kind of data is needed, how it will be managed throughout it’s life cycle, who will be responsible for it, and the optimal outcomes.

Question 3

Define the Capture phase of the data life cycle

Answer 3

Where data is collected from a variety of different sources and brought into an organisation. The data could be publicly available or from the company’s own database

Question 4

Define the Manage stage of the data life cycle

Answer 4

How we care for our data, how and where it’s stored, the tools used to keep it safe and secure, and the actions taken to make sure that it’s properly maintained.

Question 5

Define the Analyse stage of the data life cycle

Answer 5

Data is used to solve problems, make great decisions, and support business goals.

Question 6

Define the Archive stage of the data life cycle

Answer 6

Keep relevant data stored for long-term and future reference.

Question 7

Define the Destroy stage of the data life cycle

Answer 7

Safely and securely disposing of data using secure data erasure software and shredding of physical documents to protect the private information of the company and it’s customers.

Question 8

What is a database?

Answer 8

A collection of data stored in a computer system.

Question 9

What is a stakeholder?

Answer 9

People who have invested time and resources into a project and are interested in the outcome.

Question 10

How do you determine stakeholder expectations?

Answer 10

By working out who the stakeholders are, what they want, when they want it, why they want it, and how best to communicate with them.

Question 11

What does it mean to define a problem?

Answer 11

Looking at the current state and identifying how it’s different from the ideal state.

Question 12

What is a spreadsheet formula?

Answer 12

A set of instructions that performs a specific calculation using the data in a spreadsheet.

Question 13

What is a spreadsheet function?

Answer 13

A preset command that automatically performs a specific process or task using the data in a spreadsheet.

Question 14

What is the difference between a formula and a function?

Answer 14

A formula is a set of instructions, whereas a function is a preset command. Formulas perform a specific calculation. Functions are preset commands that automatically perform a process or task, making it more efficient.

Question 15

What is an attribute in reference to a spreadsheet?

Answer 15

A characteristic or quality of data used to label a column in a table.

Question 16

What is an observation in relation to a spreadsheet?

Answer 16

All of the attributes for something contained in a row of a data table.

Question 17

What is a query?

Answer 17

A request for data or information from a database.

Question 18

What basic syntax forms every SQL query?

Answer 18

Select: to choose the columns you want to return.
From: to choose the tables where those columns are located.
Where: to filter for certain information.

Question 19

What is used to separate fields/ variables in a SELECT command?

Answer 19

a comma

Question 20

What is used to connect conditions in a WHERE command?

Answer 20

the word ‘AND’

Question 21

What is fairness in data analytics?

Answer 21

Ensuring that your analysis doesn’t create or reinforce bias.

Question 22

What is self-reporting?

Answer 22

A data collection technique where participants provide information about themselves.

Question 23

What is oversampling?

Answer 23

The process of increasing the sample size of non-dominant groups in a population.

Question 24

List five best practices to support fair analysis.

Answer 24

1. Consider all of the available data.
2. Identify surrounding factors.
3. Include self-reported data.
4. Use oversampling effectively.
5. Think about fairness from beginning to end.