In an information flow model, each processing stage is described as one of the following stage

classes:

1. Data Supply – where data suppliers forward information into the system.
2. Data Acquisition – the stage that accepts data from external suppliers and injects it into
the system.
3. Data Creation – internal to the system, data may be generated and then forwarded to
another processing stage.
4. Data Processing – any stage that accepts input and generates output (as well as
generating side effects).
5. Data Packaging – any point at which information is collated, aggregated and summarized
for reporting purposes.
6. Decision Making – the point where human interaction is required.
7. Decision Implementation – the stage where the decision made at a decision-making
stage is executed, which may affect other processing stages or a data delivery stage.
8. Data Delivery – the point where packaged information is delivered to a known data
consumer.
9. Data Consumption – as the data consumer is the ultimate user of processed information,
the consumption stage is the exit stage of the system