4.1.3 Quality of information

1. How to find information 4.1.3 Quality of information

2. Starter: TableFill in the table on your work sheet to show how to find information.

3. Main: Data Sources - Direct Direct data is data that has been gathered for the exact purpose its being used for. Example A traffic light system is being upgraded. Before this , Road services require information such as how many cars use the road in question and at what times of day. If no one already has this information it must be collected. This data is collected specifically for Roads services in order to access traffic management. • Information collected is exactly what the organisation wants. • Organisations can be sure of the reliability of the data, because they specify what is needed. • Data can become a valuable commodity if re-sold as indirect data • The organisations collecting data must pay all the costs related to collecting it. Advantages & Disadvantages

4. Main: Data Sources - Indirect Indirect data is derived from data originally collected for an entirely different purpose. Example Census figures which are used by education authorities to plan how many teachers will be needed in schools in the years ahead. • The information available depends on what was originally collected. • Data coming from a third-party can contain much unnecessary material. • It can be difficult to know how reliable the original data was. • The organisation wanting data may pay only a fraction of the original cost of collecting it. Advantages & Disadvantages

5. Main: Data Sources - Static Static data is usually found on a CD-ROM. Static information sources, once created, do not change, so the information may become out-of-date. The information can be relied on to be accurate, as it has usually gone through a checking process, but the amount of information held is limited Advantages & Disadvantages

6. Main: Data Sources - Dynamic Dynamic information is usually found on a website. Dynamic information sources are updated regularly or can be change. This means it is usually up-to-date and large amounts of information can be held. Dynamic WebPages are linked to a database. The information may not always be accurate as no checking process may have taken place. Advantages & Disadvantages

7. Main: On-line Information Sources • Intranet… used by organisations as an internal network to enable information to be shared. Internet technology is used for internal networks for staff only. Web browser software allows staff to access data in any database that the organisation wants to make available e.g. sales staff could gain access to to stock information using the intranet.

8. Main: On-line Information Sources Examples Tax Information DPA act information Details of utility suppliers and their costs Information on competitors products or services • Internet… Huge amounts of information can be found on the internet and many companies subscribe to on-line services which provide them with information. E.g. High street travel agents have access to flights and holidays that are not available to book direct. They access these systems using the internet.

9. Main: CD-ROMs Examples A cd from the Royal Mail containing full listings of all known UK addresses A cd from a customer database to give travelling salespersons contact details etc • Advantages… the information on CD-ROMs cannot be altered and used to be able to hold a relatively large amount of information. • They are used less for distributing large amounts of information because most information does change and it is easier to access it online.

10. Main: Non-ICT sources of information Examples Directories Maps Paper Invoices (P60’s) Old records Reports Letters Newspapers Journals Manuals • E.g. You will still see paper files sometimes in doctors surgeries as these were not always computerised and transfering them to computer takes time. • Some smaller organisations have still not made the change to computers because the owners are older and may not want to learn a new system or maybe there is only a small amount of paperwork.

11. Activity: Comic LifeUsing comic life create an information page to show:How to find information (Online Sources) (Non-IT Sources)Data sources (Direct/Indirect) (Static/Dynamic)

12. Plenary: Class Quiz • Quiz’s on Teach-ict • http://www.teach-ict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/311_data_info_knowledge/quality_information/quizzes_quality_of_info.html

13. Extension: Exam questions • Managers gain much of their information from their on-line systems. Give three information sources that a manager could use, where the information obtained is not from an ict sources (3). • Managers frequently need information that is not available on-line. Give two examples of such information and explain briefly why each piece of informaiton is needed. (2)

14. 3. The owner of a tool hire company is moving over to using an ICT system for recording loans and returns of equipment. As well as recording information about the loans, the customers and the tools, the owner would like management information that would enable him to run the business more profitably. • explain, by giving an example applicable to his business, how management informaiton could make his business more profitable (3) • Management information can aid the owner in decision making. Give one example of a deicison the owner oculd make and describe what management information from the ICT system he would need to make the decision (2). • State two advantages that up to date, accurate and complete information will give the owner (2).