Session 3:
Difference between Data, Information
and Knowledge
Kyaw Myo Min
Data the discrete, objective facts
about events is the essential raw
material needed for the creation of
information; however, it cannot be
used to make decisions because it has
no meaning. It lacks meaning because
it has no inherent structure; no
established relationships between
entities.
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Data becomes information when we add
meaning . We add meaning by providing a
context to the data. The context identifies
the purpose, and circumstance, that
surround the gathering of data; it
removes ambiguity. We can remove
ambiguity in a variety of ways:
categorizing, calculating, condensing, etc.
Information is helpful because it allows us
to answer the who, what, where,
when, and how many questions.
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Good information is:
Accurate - conveys the true situation.
Timely - is available in time to make decisions.
Useable - is portrayed in common, easily understood
formats and displays.
Complete - provides all necessary data.
Precise - has the required level of detail.
In short, information helps us decide what to do, not
how to do it. The how requires knowledge.
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Knowledge is the data (facts),
information, and skills acquired through
experience or education. The hallmark
of knowledge is judgment: the ability to
make decisions or come to sensible
conclusions. Knowledge comprises not
only the ability to choose the
appropriate course of action, but also
the skills to execute it.
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Knowledge is the data (facts),
information, and skills acquired through
experience or education. The hallmark
of knowledge is judgment: the ability to
make decisions or come to sensible
conclusions. Knowledge comprises not
only the ability to choose the
appropriate course of action, but also
the skills to execute it.
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Data, Information, and Knowledge
Data: Unorganized and unprocessed facts;
static; a set of discrete facts about events
Information: Aggregation of data that makes
decision making easier
Knowledge is derived from information in the
same way information is derived from data; it is
a persons range of information
The relationships between data, information, and knowledge
Data
Knowledge
Information
Simple observations
of the world:
Easily captured
Easily structured
Easily transferred
Compact,
quantifiable
Data with relevance
and purpose:
Requires unit of
analysis
Needs consensus on
meaning
Human mediation
necessary
Often garbled in
transmission
Valuable information
from the human mind:
includes reflection,
synthesis, context
Hard to capture
electronically
Hard to structure
Often tacit
Hard to transfer
Highly personal to
the source
More human contribution
Greater value
Relationship between data,
information and Knowledge
Knowledge
Value
Zero
Data
Low
Medium
High
Very High
Information
Difference between Data, Information & Knowledge
Definition
Example
Data is basically just raw facts and
figures. No single piece of data can be
useful by itself, as it does not provide
good business information.
The number 37 is data.
Information is data which has been
processed and has now got some
meaning behind it.
37% of people eat junk food
every day.
Knowledge is an understanding of the
information which has been given.
Those 37% of people lead a
very unhealthy lifestyle which
could lead to bad problems.
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Infor
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DAT
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Know
Inf
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Relating Data, Information, and
Knowledge to Events
Knowledge
Information
System
Information
Use of
information
Decision
Events
Knowledge
Data
Purposes of Data, Information & Knowledge
WHY use Data, Information and
Knowledge?
WHEN use them?
Purposes of Data, Information & Knowledge
Planning (resources, possibilities)
Monitoring & Controlling (activities implementation)
Recording Transactions (Documentation)
Performance Measurement (costs, revenues,
volumes, time scales & profitability)
Decision Making
Any Questions!
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Group Activity:
Provide 3 Examples of Differences
between Data, Information and Knowledge
in each group.
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