Data versus information

Task 1. What do you think about the following ideas?

1. How do you understand the word data?
2. How do you understand the work information?
3. What is the difference between data and information?
4. How do you understand the word process?
5. Describe the process of transforming data into information.

Task 2. Read the text carefully. Say whether the sentences below the text are true or false.
1. Data is a collection of facts organized in such a way that they have additional value
beyond the value of the facts themselves.
2. Process is a set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined outcome.
3. Rules and relationships can’t be set up to organize data into useful, valuable information.
4. Information can be considered data made more useful through the application of
knowledge.
5. The process of defining relationships among data to create useful information does not
require knowledge.

Task 3. Choose the words from the box and put each of them in the correct place of the sentence.
Calculated; available; layout; process; increase; set up; converting; relationships; knowledge;
determine

1. Part of the knowledge needed for building a railroad layout, for example, is
understanding how large an area is … for the layout, how many trains will run on the
track, and how fast will they travel.
2. Turning data into information is a … or a set of logically related tasks performed to
achieve a defined outcome.
3. Rules and relationships can be … to organize data into useful, valuable information.
4. The type information created depends on … defined among existing data.
5. The information could be used be the manager to … which product lines are the most
popular and profitable.
6. The act of selecting or rejecting facts according to their relevancy to particular tasks is
also based on a type of knowledge used in the process of … data into information.
7. … is an awareness and understanding of a set of information and the ways that
information can be made useful to support a specific task or reach a decision.
8. Providing information to customers can also help companies … revenues and profits.
9. By arranging pieces of track in a certain way, a railroad … begins to emerge.
10. The manager could have manually … the sum of the sales of each representative.

Task 4. Find the words according to their definitions in the marked paragraph of the text.
1. To operate on data by means of a program (p. 4);
2. the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer,
being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic,
optical, or mechanical recording media (p. 2);
3. data as processed, stored, or transmitted by a computer (p. 1);
 4. to change from one system, use, or method to another, or to make something do this (p.
4);
5. a range of similar products or services that are sold by the same company, with different
features and different prices (p. 3).

Task 5. Discuss the following questions:

1. What is the role of information system department?
2. What is the purpose of information system?
3. What is the role of information systems in society?
4. What is the design of an information system based on?
5. What are benefits of an information system for business?
Task 6. Read the key terms carefully and find the best explanation.
1. Data a. Able to be obtained, used, or reached
2. To apply b. The way a thing turns out; a
consequence
3. To be available c. To describe the meaning of something,
esp. a word, or to explain something
more clearly so that it can be
understood
4. Profitable d. Raw facts, such as an employee’s name
and number of hours worked in a week,
inventory part numbers or sales orders
5. Information e. A set of logically related tasks
performed to achieve a defined
outcome
6. Outcome f. Data as processed, stored, or
transmitted by a computer
7. To define g. An awareness and understanding of a
set of information and ways that
information can be made useful to
support a specific task or reach a
decision
8. Process h. To bring or put into operation or
practical use
9. Layout i. A thing arranged or set out in a
particular way
10. Knowledge j. Resulting in or likely to result in a
profit or a benefit