[ 02 ] - Understanding Data, Information and Knowledge and Their Inter-Relationships
The purpose of this article is to discuss the terms Data, Information, Knowledge and their inter-relationship with real life examples.
2.1 - Review of Data, Information and Knowledge in literature
Knowledge, Information, and Data are key words and also fundamental concepts in knowledge management, intellectual capital, and organizational learning. (Anthony Liew, 2007) It has often been pointed out that data, information, and knowledge are not the same, but very difficult to define them.
Below table shows the various definitions of Data, Information, and Knowledge from different authors.
Some definitions of data, information, and knowledge (Source: www.viktoria.se/~dixi/km/chap3.htm)
According to the above table we can clear that all of the definitions defined by various authors shared a common difference. They are defined with each other, i.e. information is defined in terms of data &/or knowledge, and knowledge is defined in terms of information.
Ex: According to the Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995) “Information is a flow of messages” and Knowledge is created by “the very flow of information, anchored in the beliefs and commitment of its holder.”
By concerning above table I will discuss and analyze how DIK defined by these authors interrelated with each other in form of “terms” and conditions” they have used, in next section.
2.2 – Critical Analysis
To define the term Data different authors use different term but it seems to me the same. For one data is “Facts and messages” for others “A set of discrete facts”, “Not yet interpreted symbols” or “Raw facts”. Therefore in my viewpoint data can be defined as,
“Data is a set of Representation of plain facts”.
To define the term Information different authors used the terms such as “Data with meaning” “meaningful messages” and “Data with relevance” very frequently. Therefore information should have a meaning in order to others to know what it is. Therefore in my viewpoint Information can be defined as,
“Information is a message with meaning”
To define the term Knowledge different authors have use the conditions or terms such as “Why and how”, “Know how”, “Justified, true belief”, “Commitment and belief”, “ Truth and beliefs” and “judgments” some thing that connected with the human minds. Therefore in my viewpoint Knowledge can be defined as,
“Knowledge is information processed in the mind of individual”
This knowledge is personalized information and it can be gathered through experience or study. Knowledge can be viewed in different perspective. (As a state of mind, as an object and as a process)
According to the above table different authors have defined the term “knowledge” in different perspective.
· According to the (Davenport, 1997) he view the knowledge as a state of mind. In his perspective knowledge is “Valuable information from the human mind”
· According to the (Nonaka and Takenchi, 1995) defined the knowledge as a process, where 1st flow of meaningful messages should be created then commitment and beliefs should be applied.
· According to the (Quigley and Debons, 1999) defined the knowledge as an Object. He defined the knowledge as a Text where those texts answer the question why or how.
Note: I will discuss these term in details with example from my organization point of view in section 2.3
2.2.1 – Hierarchical and Inter-Relationship between Data, Information and Knowledge
As I mentioned earlier definitions defined by various authors shared a common difference. They are defined with each other, i.e. information is defined in terms of data &/or knowledge, and knowledge is defined in terms of information. That is the General Acceptance of DIK. 1st of all I would like to explain the General Acceptance of DIK. In general acceptance DIK have a hierarchical structure between them.
According to the above picture,
· Data become information as data is combined in to meaningful structure
· Information become knowledge when meaningful information is put in to context and when it can be used to make judgement with experience.
Also above picture explains how data and knowledge, as well as information and knowledge as interchangeable. According to the (Stewart, 2002) cited by Anthony Liew (2007). “One man’s knowledge can be another man’s data or one man’s knowledge can be another man’s information and vice versa, depending on context”
Note: I will discuss these inter-relationships between DIK in details with example in section 2.3
2.3 - Reflection from practice
Data, Information, Knowledge and their Inter-Relationships from my organizational perspective
According to the my organizational context which is a medical (Healthcare) centre, to carry out pre-employment medical screening for those seeking employment in the Middle East and the Gulf States. I would like to explain these terms as follows.
According to my definition “Data is a set of Representation of plain facts”. In my organizational context, data is most usefully described as structured records of transactions. Second, Data provides no judgment.
Ex: Adam, 5’ft 9inc, 120/80mmHg, 72kg, 26, Normal, “O” Positive, blue,
Information is a message with meaning, usually in the form or a document (General Examination Report, Laboratory Investigation Report). When we talk about a message it has a sender and a receiver. Unlike data, information has meaning. “Data becomes information when its creator adds meaning”. (Davenport and Prusak, 1998)
Ex: Patient called Adam, He is 5’ft 9inc in height, has 120/80mmHg Blood Pressure, is 72kg in weight, is 26 yrs old, vision (eyes) is Normal, has a Blood Group of “O” Positive and has a blue eyes. All these messages can be include in a one document. (General Examination Report, Laboratory Investigation Report)
Knowledge is information processed in the mind of individual. In other word "Knowledge is the state or fact of knowing; it is understanding gained through experience or study; the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered or learned" (Snyder and Wilson, 1998).
Ex: 01 By examine the Adam’s General Examination Report and the Laboratory Investigation Report; Medical Officer (Chief Doctor) can certify on the Medical Certification that Adam is either Fit/Unfit to work, based on their experiences.
Ex: 02 Number of patients cared for during year, Number of Fit and Unfit patient’s records for during year.
Now I would like to explain the inter relationship between these term data, information, and knowledge in the context of my organization.
It is often assumed that these term are arranged in a hierarchical structure starting with data, data the most plentiful type, at the bottom; information produced from data above it; knowledge produced from information.
- As I mentioned earlier data such as Adam, 5’ft 9inc, 120/80mmHg can be information when we add some context to it. (Ex: Patient called Adam, he is 5’ft 9inc in Height, he has 120/80mmHg Blood Pressure, etc.) And these informations can be usually represented in the form or a document (i.e.- General Examination Report, Laboratory Investigation Report). The improvement from data to information based on ‘know what and how’ procedure.
- Then the chief doctors can use these documents in order to come to a conclusion that is to certify the patient is either Fit/Unfit to work on the Medical Certification. Therefore these informations become knowledge to those chief doctors with their experience. Here ‘know why and how’ procedure applies.
- In order to certify the patient status (Fit/Unfit) doctor should have pre-knowledge with in that field.
· Finally this Medical Certification could be a data to the Foreign Embassies and just information to the patient. “One man’s knowledge can be another man’s data or information, depending on context” (Stewart, 2002) cited by Anthony Liew (2007).
2.4 - Reflections on group learning:
· Learning out come 01: What is data/ information/ knowledge and their inter-relationships.
By having our group discussion I have learned the differences between Data, Information, Knowledge and their inter relationship.
During our seminar we faced some difficulties in order to Differentiate these term and we found that there is no clear distinction between terms. But it is easy to separate the each term when we applied in to a real life context.
During the class, my group (group 01) argued that data, information and knowledge have a hierarchical structure or a pyramid view and those DIK are interrelated to each other according to the different situations.
Appropriate example given by my lecture is that a prescription of a pharmaceutical product. This prescription can be a data, information or knowledge for different people according to their observation.
Finally I have learned what is a knowledge exploration model and concept of each term.
(Observation, Integration, Conceptualization, evaluation and Derivation)
References:
· Davenport T.H. and Prusak L. 1998: Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
· Snyder C. A. Wilson L. T. 1998; The Process of Knowledge Harvesting: The key to knowledge Management, proceedings of BIT 98 held at Manchester Metropolitan University, November 1998.
· Anthony L. 2007: Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, Vol. 8, No. 2. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from www.tlainc.com/articl134.htm
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