Attributes of Information

EXAMPLES

Overview
Information Systems help companies achieve their

goals.
How do they do it?
1. By processing raw data into information
2. IS can add value to information by enhancing the

attributes (11 of them).

11 Attributes of Information
Usability

Relevant
Simple
Flexible
Economical

Delivery

Timely
Accessible
Secure

Quality
Accurate
Verifiable
Complete
Reliable

Information Spectrum
Data processing Information
Information intelligence Knowledge
Knowledge

experience Wisdom

Often confused
My calculator always does multiplication correctly in

never makes an error. My calculator is

__________

What attribute is described?

However, I dropped it in the sink and sometimes it

wont turn on.

My calculation is not _________

What attribute is described?

Accuracy vs. Reliability

Accuracy true, free from error
Precision refers to the level of accuracy

1/3 = 1.333 is accurate

1/3 = 1.333333 is more precise

Reliability in IS, it refers to how often

information is accurate.

An information source could be error free but might not work

all the time.

Weather Forecasting
Are weather-persons

reliable,
accurate,
both, or
neither?

Accurate vs. Reliable

Weatherman A can predict tomorrows temperature

to the exact degree

but only 40% of the time.

other 60% he cannot interpret the raw data

Weatherman B can predict tomorrows temperature

but it may be off by 5 degrees

But, his system works 95% of the time

Who is more accurate?

Who is more reliable?

TPS transaction processing system

I put the TPS reports on the website so everyone can

access them.

This makes the TPS reports more ________.

The TPS reports are PDF files which cannot be

modifed easily, so we also provide the TPS data in

standard XML format which can be converted to any
other format.

The XML format is more ___________.

Some attributes are enemies!

My student evaluation report includes 23 answers

from all 31 students. Its hard for me to tell if my

evaluations are good or bad, but at least the data is
__________.
The student evaluation report includes only my
average score, which is very _______ and easy to
interpret, but Id like all the data.

Examples Stories
Water Testing
GE PCB Dredging
1930s stock tips

Fun Article
http://www.walletpop.com/2010/12/29/disney-

world-unveils-plans-to-reduce-wait-time/