Question

To be an effective manager, it is important to understand that information is one of an organisation’s most valuable and important resources. For a Higher Education institution, how might we differentiate between data, information and knowledge? Explain with relevant examples.

Answer 1

Information - Organised data about anything which is obtained from different sources such as internet , conversation , discussion etc. are called information. Information can be transferred through verbal or non verbal signals, therefore it is easy to transfer.

Knowledge - It is acquired by deep understanding about a subject from a well experienced teacher or through education. Also when information and experience is combined ,it is knowledge. So subjects can understand well. Knowledge transfer depends on the receiver. A student who is not interested in listening a subject lacks knowledge .

Data - It is a collection of different symbols and characters which has meaning only when it connects with a context. Information is made out of data. For example in a student database 12061999 is just a data which has no meaning unless it is stored under student date of birth. Then it can be read as 12/06/1999. So information and knowledge is derived from it. Otherwise it is raw or no significance beyond its existence.