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INFS 112 Introduction To Information Management: Session 1 - Concepts of Information

This document provides an overview of the first session of the INFS 112 Introduction to Information Management course. The session, led by Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, focuses on concepts of information and defines data, information, and knowledge. It includes slides on the session overview and outline, reading list, and topics covering what data, information, and knowledge are. The key topics are explained through examples and diagrams like the knowledge pyramid. An activity and video are also included to help students differentiate between data, information, and knowledge.

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Hamond Oliver
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90 views

INFS 112 Introduction To Information Management: Session 1 - Concepts of Information

This document provides an overview of the first session of the INFS 112 Introduction to Information Management course. The session, led by Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, focuses on concepts of information and defines data, information, and knowledge. It includes slides on the session overview and outline, reading list, and topics covering what data, information, and knowledge are. The key topics are explained through examples and diagrams like the knowledge pyramid. An activity and video are also included to help students differentiate between data, information, and knowledge.

Uploaded by

Hamond Oliver
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INFS 112

Introduction to information management

Session 1 – Concepts of Information

Lecturer: Dr. Perpetua S. Dadzie, Dept. of Information Studies


Contact Information: [email protected]

College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Session Overview
At the end of the session, the student will be
able to:
• Define and differentiate among data,
information and knowledge
• Explain how and why data, information and
knowledge are essential in our daily lives
• Understand the knowledge pyramid

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 2


Session Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as
follows:
• Topic One - What is data?
• Topic Two - What is information?
• Topic Three – What is knowledge?
• Topic Four – Knowledge Pyramid

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 3


Reading List
• Elearn (2009). Information and Knowledge Management.
Revised Edition. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Ltd. pp. 2-6 (e-book)

• Debons, A. (2008). Information Science 101. Lanham,


Maryland: The Scarecrow Press Inc. pp. 3-7

• Palmer, S. & Weaver, M. (1998). Information Management.


Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. pp 22-26

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 4


Topic One

WHAT IS DATA?

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 5


What is Data?
• Data are raw facts and figures that on their own have
no meaning. These can be any alphanumeric
characters i.e. text, numbers, symbols. For example:
12A4GH7; 17, 25,
• Data simply exists and has no significance beyond its
existence (in and of itself). It can exist in any form,
usable or not. It does not have meaning of itself.
• Data is comprised of the basic, unrefined, and
generally unfiltered information
• Data must be organized to become information.
Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 6
What is Data? (2)
Data Examples
• Yes, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes
• 42, 63, 96, 74, 56, 86
• 111192, 111234
• GH¢80, GH¢102, GH¢200, GH¢150
• Can you interpret the meaning of the above?
• None of the above data sets have any meaning until
they are given a CONTEXT and PROCESSED into a
useable form

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 7


What is Data? (3)
Purpose of Data
• to record activities or situations, to attempt to
capture the true picture or real event. Therefore, all
data are historical, unless used for illustration
purposes, such as forecasting.

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 8


Topic Two

WHAT IS INFORMATION?

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 9


What is Information?
• Is this information:
Treuliodd y rhif cwsmer ١٨ bron i dri chant o ddoleri mewn
un pryniant - gwerthiant mwyaf y mis diwethaf!
- Why yes/no?

• Is this information:
This is a regular patron who borrows at least six books at a
time and has never missed a deadline in returning his
books.
- Why yes/no?
Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information
Studies Slide 10
What is Information (2)
Information
• collection of facts organized in such a way that they have
additional value beyond the value of the facts themselves
• Data that has been processed within a context to give it
meaning
• Data that has been processed into a form that gives it meaning
• A subset of data, only including those data that possess
context, relevance and purpose
• Manipulation of raw data
• Data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to
"who", "what", "where", and "when" questions

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 11


What is Information (3)
Information by itself is only of use if it is:
• the right information (fit for the purpose)
• at the right time
• in the right format
• at the right price

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 12


What is Information (4)
Purpose of Information
• To understand what the organization as a whole is doing as
well as understand what is happening in your own unit or
department
• To be aware of the wider industry developments that may
impact on your library or archives set up
• To solve day-to-day problems and to help with long-term
planning
• To help avoid reinventing the wheel
• To be aware of different practices which are bringing new
ideas and facilitating change
Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 13
Topic Three

WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE?

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 14


What is Knowledge?
Knowledge is
• appropriate collection of information, such that its
intent is to be useful.
• understanding of rules needed to interpret
information
• application of data and information; answers "how"
questions
• a mix of contextual information, experiences, rules,
and values.

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 15


What is Knowledge? (2)
Note : Tremendous amount of information that
is generated is only useful if it can be applied
to create knowledge within the organisation.
Two types of knowledge
• Tacit/hidden knowledge - Within the
organisation there are certain people who
hold specific knowledge or have the 'know
how‘

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 16


What is Knowledge? (3)
Tacit …
• For ex. -- "I did something very similar to that
last year and this happened…..
• Tacit knowledge "is personal, context-specific
and hard to formalize and communicate.
• A [knowledge] developed and internalized by
the knower over a long period of time . . .

Chapter 12 17
What is Knowledge? (4)
Tacit ….
•incorporates so much accrued and embedded
learning that its rules may be impossible to
separate from how an individual acts. ‘knowing
how’ Eg. The knowledge that you use when
driving a car

Chapter 12 18
What is Knowledge? (5)
Explicit/formal
• knowledge that can be easily collected,
organized and transferred through digital
means.
– A theory of the world, conceived of as a set
of all of the conceptual entities describing
classes of objects, relationships, processes,
and behavioral norms. Often referred to as
‘knowing that’, or declarative knowledge. Eg.
the knowledge available from a driving
manual or the Highway Code
Chapter 12 19
What is Knowledge? (6)
Explicit/formal …
• This is knowledge that has been captured and used to
develop policies and operating procedures for
example.

Chapter 12 20
The Knowledge Pyramid

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 21


Video

• What is the difference between data, information


and knowledge?
• <iframe width="560" height="315"
src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mUgEgkV16
Bw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 22


Activity
• Using the Knowledge pyramid as a guide, list five
items of data, information and knowledge.
• Summarize what you use each item for – your
purpose
• Note how you add value to each item to create
information or knowledge
• Who is involved in this process?

Dr. Perpetua Dadzie, Dept of Information Studies Slide 23

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