Knowledge Management, Information and Data: Convergence and State of the Art

Data strategy, Information Management and Knowledge Management are three very important business aspects that are interlinked.

Data in their simplest form can be a number, symbol, character, word, codes, graphs, etc. Information is created when data are processed, analysed, organised, or structured to provide context and meaning.

Information is essentially processed data. Data is unorganised, while information is structured or organised. Information management is focused on data and IT, collecting, storing and accessing information.

Knowledge is what we know. Knowledge is unique to each individual and is the accumulation of past experience and insight that shapes that we interpret, and assign meaning to, information. For knowledge to result in action, an individual must have the authority and capacity to make and implement a decision.

Information management is focused on data and IT, while knowledge management is focused on people and processes. Information management is collecting, storing, and accessing information, while knowledge management is creating, sharing, using, and managing knowledge. Knowledge management powers your organisation by making information easily accessible and applicable to your business.