What You Should Know

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Data

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unprocessed, unorganised and facts or ideas.

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Information

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processed, organised and value added data. It can be paper-based or digital-based .

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A solution

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a method for solving problems. In information technology, the problem- solving methodology is a way of developing solutions.

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Relevant data

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meets the purpose. To identify relevant data, you need to be able to assess the data and determine the characteristics of the targeted audience.

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Usable data

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has the properties of suitability, reliability, accuracy, timeliness and freedom from bias.

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Characteristics of audiences

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are gender, special needs, culture, age, education level, status and location.

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A Data type

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is set data with predefined characteristics. The most common data types are integer, floating point numbers, character and string.

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A graphic representation

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is a pictorial diagram that shows the interdependencies between variables. Common types which are created from numerical data are column charts, line charts, pie graphs, bar charts, area charts, scatter diagrams and bubble charts.

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Layout diagrams

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detail the content of a solution. They are a visual sketch of a graphic representation, and contain descriptions of each element of the content.

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A spreadsheet

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is made up of worksheets (rows and columns).

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Spreadsheet formulas

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include conditional, lookup, date and time, financial, statistical, math, counting, conversion and text.

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Spreadsheet functions

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include the ability to format data, sort and filter data, and perform mathematical, logical, financial, statistical and scientific functions and create charts and graphs.

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Design elements

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are factors that influence the appearance and effectiveness of graphic representations. These elements include proportion, orientation, clarity and consistency, colour and contrast, usability and accessibility, appropriateness and relevance.

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Efficiency

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is measured in terms of time, cost and effort. Spreadsheets include functions that enable a user to work quickly and with less effort in order to produce graphic representations, thereby minimising cost.

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Effectiveness

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relates to how well a solution meets the specified need and fulfils the specified purpose. It is measured in terms of completeness, readability, attractiveness, clarity, accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, communication of message, relevance and reliability.

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Validation

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checks that data input to a computer system is appropriate and reasonable.

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Manual validation

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is performed by a person, not a computer, and includes proofreading and checking for illegal data types, for reasonableness, for correct spelling, to ensure that data falls within a correct ‘range’, or that any codes used are consistent and reasonable.

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Electronic validation

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is performed by a computer and includes range checking, existence checking, data-type checking and restricted data entry.

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Validation alerts

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communicate to the user that the data entered does not adhere to the validation rules set.

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A Format

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is a way of presenting data, such as centring text or adding dollar signs to represent currency.

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A convention

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is an accepted and standard way of formatting data.

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Testing

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is performed to ensure that the processes, functions and formulas of a solution operate and manipulate data as expected. A solution needs to be tested for its effectiveness.