DATA

The singular of data is datum, meaning facts but it is used as singular also. Data are raw facts, observations, and inferences about physical phenomena or business transactions. It is represented by symbols, words, numbers and codes composed of mixture of numerical, alphabetical and other characters. It cans also entries. For example, sale of computer or constructing a building will generate lot of data describing these events. As data is the objective measurement, so it sees not show the whole picture, rather it gives the idea about the entity. Data is not only available in textual from, it is taking v variety of forms today, such as voice, image, and video data.

INFORMATION

Information is the data which have been processed into a form which is meaning full to the recipient and which is of real or perceived value for the intended purpose which, as for as the management is concerned, is likely to be for planning, control or decision making. Thus data are the raw materials form which of level in the organization may be used as data for further processing into information for a different purpose or a level.

An organization’s information systems might be used to perform a number of tasks simultaneously.

1. Initiating transactions.

2. Recording transactions as they occur.

3. Producing data.

4. Producing reports.

5. Responding to enquiries.

NATURE OF INFORMANTION PROCESSING

The term “information processing” is more appropriate than the outmoded term “data processing” as it recognizes that it is information which is important to the management processes of business planning, decision making and control. The preparation of the reports containing information involves subject to the basic facts, i. e. the data, to a number of processing operations which typically include: verification, validation, sorting merging, computing comparing updating and printing.