Question 1
Data and information are two terms, which are at times used in place of one another although they are different in numerous ways. First of all, data are unorganized, raw facts, which have to be processed while pieces of information are the facts that have been interpreted. Thus, data are the raw facts, which individuals collect based on their experiences and observations. Liew (2007) asserts that data is composed of raw, basic, and usually unfiltered information. Data might at times appear abstract or random since they are in unorganized and raw form. In the case study, the numbers showing the total annual volume of pressings for the company’s main customers are data. These are raw facts that one has to process to get the information. According to Boisot and Canals (2004), the process of extracting information from the data constitutes an analysis of the data. Consequently, information is the data, which has been analyzed. In other words, the interpreted facts on the collected data produce information.
The other difference between data and information is that while the former are just figures and numbers, the later gives meaning to these figures and numbers. Data is presented in the form of decimals, graphs, proportions, percentages, and fractions, among other forms (Zins, 2007). The information is generated from the interpretation of the figures and numbers. The giving of meaning to the numbers and figures produce information. For instance, the analysis or interpretation of the number of parts that the customers returned to WM Pressings in December 2015 produces the information that there was a high decline in the quality of the products manufactured by the company. Data can be categorized into quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data can be measured since it deals with numbers. On the other hand, qualitative data cannot be measured but can be observed.
The other difference between data and information is that the former is based on the observations and records whereas the latter is based on the research. Data is collected from the observations and recorded in an individual’s brain or on a piece of paper. In contrast, information is regularly collected from a range of specialists such as doctors and scientists. Consequently, information is more factual and reliable than data because it is backed by research. Additionally, information ought to have a reasonable meaning as suggested by while data does not have any meaning. In fact, Aamodt and Nygård (1995) claim that information is the data with meaning. The research conducted while gathering information gives it a logical meaning. Data does not have an importance of itself (Bellinger, Castro, and Mills, 2004). As a result, data in itself is ineffective. In other words, figures and numbers on themselves do not have any meaning. They get meaning when they are processed or interpreted. For instance, we get the meaning of the numbers presented in the tables in the case study once we interpret or analyze them.
Another noticeable difference between data and information is that the former is the raw material, which is gathered whereas the latter is an in-depth meaning that is produced from this raw material. Thus, information relies on data and is full of meanings. Data can be extracted for beneficial information (Hey, 2004). Data is pure fact, implying that it must always be correct. However, it has to be interpreted for additional information. Thus, this means that the data that has not been processed or interpreted lacks meaning. On the other hand, information is the data that is made useful through the analysis or interpretation. One cannot generate information devoid of the assistance of data. Consequently, information is essentially the meaning that is created with the help of data. The raw material for generating information is data. Besides, data is not detailed while information is detailed.
Question 2
The information about the quality issue at WM Pressings can be gathered from different sources. Commonly, the sources of information can be tertiary sources, secondary sources, and primary sources. According to Taylor-Powell and Steele (1996), the source of information selected depend on what is accessible. Consequently, the sources of information for the quality issue at WM Pressings will be the company’s customers, facts and data, employees, written sources such as the company’s financial statements, and recorded phone conversations. As an individual requested by the Managing Director to investigate the quality issue at the company, I will utilize all these sources so as to produce the best explanation. I believe that these sources will provide detailed information about the quality issue at WM Pressings.
The customers (automotive industries) are the most reliable sources of information for the quality issue at the company. Thus, they will be my primary sources since they are the individuals who are directly affected by the said issue. In other words, they are the stakeholders that at the center of the quality issue. For this reason, they will provide me with all the information I will need regarding the quality of the products they buy from the company. I feel that the automotive companies who are the customers of the WM Pressings will be the most useful sources of information for carrying out further analysis of the quality issue at the company. Most likely, they will give me accurate details because the quality issue at WM Pressings had a direct impact on them.
The facts and data present in the company will also be my secondary sources of information for the quality issue at WM Pressings. In particular, I will look at the statistics of the components supplied by the company to its customers both before and after the occurrence of the complaints. I will also gather the necessary information for the quality issue at the company by looking at the number of returned parts. Besides, I will look for the facts from the manufacturing experts to substantiate the complaints by the customers. I believe that just like the company’s customers, facts and data will also be most useful for performing more analysis of the issue facing WM Pressings.
The company’s workforces will be the other sources of information that I will utilize to investigate the quality issue and identify the reasons for it. Just like the customers, these stakeholders are also at the center of the quality issue at the company. They are also affected by the issue. Consequently, I believe that they will also be most useful for carrying out further analysis. I will convince them to accept my interviews on the qualities of the products that WM Pressings supplies to the automotive companies. I will also seek to know from these employees if there any complaints by the automotive companies about the products.
The company’s financial statements will be the other secondary sources of information for the quality issue being experienced. Specifically, I will use these sources to research the financial performance of the company before and after the occurrence of the quality issue. From the case study, it is understandable that some of the customers of WM Pressings have already returned some parts due to defective quality. As a result, this will affect the financial performance of the company. The financial statements will provide me with the information from which I will know whether the issue is truly happening. I might also identify the reasons for the issues by looking at different items presented in the company’s financial statements.
Lastly, I believe that the recorded phone conversations will provide me with the necessary information about the quality issue at WM Pressings. I will request the company’s department responsible for communication to provide me with the recorded phone conversations if there will be any to find out if there will be customers who had been complaining about the products. These conversations will also be most useful sources of information for further analysis of the quality issue at the company.
Question 3
The aim of my investigation at WM Pressings was to inspect the quality issue and identify the reasons for this issue. I collected the information from some sources including the automotive companies (customers), facts and data present in the company, financial statements, the company’s employees, and recorded phone conversations. The findings I obtained from all these sources substantiated that the company is truly experiencing the said quality issue. From the company’s customers, who in this case were the automotive industries, I found out that they had complained a lot about the quality of the products. They claimed that the products that WM Pressings supplied to them were different from the previous products in terms of quality. The majority of them had already filed warranty claims due to the defective quality of the products they had bought from the company within the past two years. There were some who had returned these products.
The financial statements for WM Pressings during the previous years were different from those during the earlier years. There were declines in the revenue of the company as well as profitability due to the increasing number of the returned parts. The company’s sales had dropped during the previous two years owing to the increasing rejection of its defective aluminum and steel parts. Moreover, the company’s expenses in the same years had increased due to the increase in warranty claims.
The company’s employees complained about working in old presses. Thus, the quality issue was facilitated by these presses. Besides, they confirmed that the customers had returned products they had bought earlier. The recorded phone conversations between the company’s representatives and the automotive companies confirmed that the quality issue was a big problem for the company. Several automotive companies had been complaining in the past two years about the quality of the products they had acquired from WM Pressings. In spite of these complaints, the company had not taken any bold step to resolve the issue.
Question 4
Question 5
The role of information and communication has facilitated the success of the OIL Project. The information that my group members and I need to complete the activity in the OIL Project is freely available. As a result, I have not experienced difficulties while carrying out the activity. I have easily found the management consultancy company to write about thanks to the greatly accessible information on the internet. According to Hassall (2009), communication becomes imperative for performance when teams are carrying out a difficult task. The communication among the members in my group has simplified the entire activity in ILO Project. For instance, I have utilized tools such as instant text messaging services and electronic mail to seek help as well as advice from my group members. In essence, different communication technologies have increased the participation of the group members in the activity.
Information and communication have also speeded the process of decision-making among the group members in the OIL Project. The communication technology has enhanced the transfer of information from one group member to the other. As a result, we have easily consulted with one another, analyzed the information quickly, and made good decisions. The decision about the company to write about was made easier by the communication gadgets. Apart from speeding up the decision-making process, the information and communication have improved the contribution of each of the members in the project.
The information and communication technology has promoted open discussions among the group members and, as a result, led to the success of the OIL Project. We have been discussing different issues concerning the project through the internet. Communication has been key to the completion of the activity in the project. The group members have been communicating their roles without difficulties. In fact, most of these members have maintained accurate, regular, and open communication channels with each other. Consequently, this has facilitated the passage of necessary information about the project.
Reference List
Aamodt, A. and Nygård, M., 1995. Different roles and mutual dependencies of data, information, and knowledge—an AI perspective on their integration. Data & Knowledge Engineering, 16(3), pp.191-222.
Bellinger, G., Castro, D. and Mills, A., 2004. Data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. Retrieved from http://courseweb.lis.illinois.edu/~katewill/spring2011-502/502%20and%20other%20readings/bellinger%20on%20ackoff%20data%20info%20know%20wisdom.pdf
Boisot, M. and Canals, A., 2004. Data, information and knowledge: have we got it right? Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 14(1), pp.43-67.
Hassall, S.L., 2009. The relationship between communication and team performance: testing moderators and identifying communication profiles in established work teams.
Hey, J., 2004. The data, information, knowledge, wisdom chain: the metaphorical link. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
Liew, A., 2007. Understanding data, information, knowledge and their inter-relationships. Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, 8(2), pp.1-16.
Taylor-Powell, E. and Steele, S., 1996. Collecting evaluation data: An overview of sources and methods. Program Development and Evaluation, G3568-4, University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Zins, C., 2007. Conceptual approaches for defining data, information, and knowledge. Journal of the American society for information science and technology, 58(4), pp.479-493.
