Too often, managers and information workers are constrained by data that cannot be trusted. It is incomplete, out of context, outdated, inaccurate, inaccessible, or so overwhelming that it requires weeks to analyze. In those situations, the decision maker faces too much uncertainty to make intelligent business decisions. Knowing the characteristics of information and understanding which is most important to an organization will help you to effectively create, implement, and maintain information.

To Prepare:

• Consider the characteristics of information (such as accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and relevancy) that are important to organizations.
• Reflect on which of these characteristics are most important for an organization with which you are familiar.