1 Accurate See previous slides Complete See previous slides Up-to-date See previous slides RelevantInformation should not include data that is not needed. Receiving more information than is needed can lead to information overload and the information needed to be able to make effective decisions becomes lost amongst data that is not needed. Correctly targeted Information should be presented to the people who need it. Giving information to people who don’t need it can lead to information overload. It can also create confusion and could result in confidential information being in the wrong hands Topic 3: Quality of Information

2 UnderstandableInformation should be set out in a clear format that is appropriate for the intended audience. Who might that be? TimelyAccurate information must be available when needed. No decision should be based on ‘accurate’ information which is 2 weeks old! Has user confidenceInformation should have the confidence of the users. If the user believes the data is inaccurate or the original source of the data is unreliable then the information will be useless to them. No decision can be made based on such information.

3 Processing Data Often there is too much data to be processed in order to find the information you want, e.g. Often there is too much data to be processed in order to find the information you want, e.g. CCTV footage CCTV footage Mobile phone records Mobile phone records Witness statements Witness statements Large amounts of data need a powerful computer coupled with sophisticated software Large amounts of data need a powerful computer coupled with sophisticated software

4 How to find information Information can be collected from many different sources. Some will be on-line or electronic methods and others from paper-based sources and interviews. Information can be collected from many different sources. Some will be on-line or electronic methods and others from paper-based sources and interviews. On-Line SourcesNon-ICT Sources InternetNewspapers IntranetMagazines CD-Rom/DVDCatalogues Text books/Encyclopaedias Interviews/Questionnaires

5 On-Line AdvantagesDisadvantages Availability Expensive to buy/use some specialist CDs Up-to-dateQuality not always guaranteed QuantityDifficult to find the right information

6 Non-ICT sources AdvantagesDisadvantages Cheaper (no equipment needed) Out-of-date as soon as published Quality assuredCan be bulky or heavy Easy to use Accessible anywhere by anyone

7 Internal information Sales details Sales details Customers Customers Stock levels Stock levels Supplier contact information Supplier contact information Personnel records Personnel records

8 External information Organisations can subscribe to other organisations that: Organisations can subscribe to other organisations that: Supply credit information about customers Supply credit information about customers Collect marketing information about the population in general Collect marketing information about the population in general Companies can pay for lists of customers who have certain profile or characteristics, which could mean that they would be interested in your products Companies can pay for lists of customers who have certain profile or characteristics, which could mean that they would be interested in your products

9 On-line information sources Intranet Intranet Uses Internet technology for internal networks that can only be accessed by staff within the organisation Uses Internet technology for internal networks that can only be accessed by staff within the organisation Enables information to be shared across the organisation, e.g. stock availability (in all branches) Enables information to be shared across the organisation, e.g. stock availability (in all branches) Internet Internet Huge amounts of information Huge amounts of information Organisations can subscribe to services which provide them with the information they need Organisations can subscribe to services which provide them with the information they need

10 Sources Data can be collected from many sources, either: Data can be collected from many sources, either: directly - collected for a specific purpose directly - collected for a specific purpose For example, library or payroll For example, library or payroll Indirectly - derived from data originally collected for an entirely different purpose Indirectly - derived from data originally collected for an entirely different purpose Information collected from credit card use Information collected from credit card use Shopping patterns Shopping patterns Used to target marketing campaigns Used to target marketing campaigns