Finding InformationA337/A523

What are some of the possible problems with finding information?

What are some of the possible problems with finding information? Information is often lacks STRUCTURE

ASSOCIATION between the identifying information (i.e., labels and the actual information is not always obvious) and the data

CONSISTENCY is not always present. E.g., 317-274-0185

(317)274-0185

3172740185

May later need to MANIPULATE data (filter, sorting, etc.)

Typical “Office” Applications

Word Processing

Spreadsheet

Database Management System (DBMS)

Spreadsheets and DBMSes

Columns (labels)

Rows (“instance” or record)

Intersection (value)

Information often lacks STRUCTURE

ASSOCIATION between the identifying information (i.e., labels and the actual information) is not always obvious

CONSISTENCY is not always present. E.g.,

317-274-0185

(317)274-0185

3172740185

May later need to MANIPULATE data (deeper search, sorting, etc.)

Spreadsheets

Tables in MS Excel

Information often lacks STRUCTURE

ASSOCIATION between the identifying information (i.e., labels and the actual information) is not always obvious

CONSISTENCY is not always present. E.g.,

317-274-0185

(317)274-0185

3172740185

May later need to MANIPULATE data (deeper search, sorting, etc.)

DBMSes

Tables in MS Access Table is one of many

objects in a database

Easier to associate tables than in a spreadsheet (i.e., vlookup)

Tables have several unique properties we’ll discuss later

Information often lacks STRUCTURE

ASSOCIATION between the identifying information (i.e., labels and the actual information) is not always obvious

CONSISTENCY is not always present. E.g.,

317-274-0185

(317)274-0185

3172740185

May later need to MANIPULATE data (deeper search, sorting, etc.)

ERP Systems

Centralized database eliminates the need to associated data located on separate systems

Information often lacks STRUCTURE

ASSOCIATION between the identifying information (i.e., labels and the actual information) is not always obvious

CONSISTENCY is not always present. E.g.,

317-274-0185

(317)274-0185

3172740185

May later need to MANIPULATE data (deeper search, sorting, etc.)

Data Quality: What is Dirty Data?

It happens when the UPC code on a package doesn't match the item.

Causes?

Vendor-Unique product code and cost

Retailer-Unique product code and price

Data Quality: What is Dirty Data?

Potential Problems?

Inventory Reorder

Profit per unit Net profit

Customer Satisfaction Repeat Business

Angry Bloggers

Solution: Same code for vendor and retailerData Integrity: Wal-Mart's Dirty Secret

Extract, Transform, Load (ETL)

From Computerworld QuickStudy