Data Processing

 
In any information system application, the method generally followed is to design modular and
hierarchical steps of processing leading to an output in a report form or information having certain – value
specific or perceived – as seen by the user.  The steps involved are data processing, transaction
processing, application processing and system processing.
 
Data is the smallest atomic entity in the information system which is basic to build the information system.
The character of data decides the quality of information it offers to the user, if the data is taken care of
properly, its usage will ensure quality output.  Hence, in any information system significant care is taken in
building the data as a first level input to the system.  The data is built through data design and modeling
process which provides specification and character to the data.  These specifications and characters are
used throughout the information system for a variety of applications.  Data processing is handling raw
data in a systematic manner to confirm to the data quality standards as determined by the designer of the
information system.
 
Let us take a simple example of a data used extensively in every application.  Though the data is a
universal entity in nature, it still requires determination of specification, character and presentation.  A
data is isolation conveys the position of the day in a calendar.  In the information system, however, it may
convey a number of things to the user.  First, therefore, it needs specification. It is necessary to specify
how the data will be specified, whether in the form of DD-MM-YY or MM-DD-YY or YY-MM-DD. So the
data `date' has a specific order of positioning and presenting.  Its interpretation also changes beyond it
generic meaning as a day in the calendar.