Information
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Definition:
Data consists of a series of facts or statements
that may have been collected, stored, processed and/or manipulated but have not
been organized or placed into context. When data is organized, it becomes information.
Information can be processed and used to draw generalized conclusions or knowledge.
Example: A file listing all of the orders placed through an online
service is an example of data. If we sort the data by ZIP code and
summarize the number of orders that come from each city, we have created
information. We can create knowledge by taking this information and making
statements such as "Most orders for Widget X come from the northeastern
United States."
Related Resources:
Microsoft
Access Fundamentals
Not sure if your organization needs a database? Your About.com Guide to
Databases provides an overview of database concepts as well as the fundamental
components of Microsoft Access.
Database Design
Visit our database design subject page for more on databases.
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