Data, information and knowledge
Alistair Mutch · 2008
In this chapter we look at some of the issues connected with the increased focus on knowledge in organizational life. In order to do this, I have used a common division between ‘data’, ‘information’ and ‘knowledge’. As we will see, it is sometimes difficult to draw clear lines between these terms. For example, it can be argued that use of a term like ‘knowledge’ often seems to refer more to information. However, in order to reach some sort of judgement on these practices it is first necessary that we discuss some of the attributes of the different terms. While it is helpful to view these terms as lying on a continuum, rather than being sharply distinguished from each other, it is also helpful for pragmatic reasons to maintain the distinctions. As the discussion progresses we will see that keeping these classifications is also helpful in pointing our attention to different types of problem that might in turn suggest different types of remedy.