1. Explain the inseparability of the concepts of “tools” and “uses” in sociotechnical terminology, and why it is useful to do so.
Sociotechnical systems theory is based on the premise that all organizations are based around the social systems, comprised of the people, who utilize the technical aspects of the business, the tools, techniques, and knowledge, for the purpose of fulfilling the basic requirements of the company’s customers, either through the provision of services or the manufacturing of goods (Liu & Errey, 2006). As such, there is a certain level of inseparability between the concepts of tools and the uses of tools within sociotechnical terminology; the tools themselves are an integral part of the socio-technology system, one that cannot be separated from the uses of those tools, given the fact that the system exists only as a result of the tools and the people who utilize them.
2. Distinguish between the traditional ideas of “data” and “information,” and “knowledge,” and explain how the Internet is making these distinctions increasingly unhelpful.
It is easy to distinguish between the traditional concepts of data, information, and knowledge; data is “unprocessed information,” while “information is data that has been processed” and knowledge is the application of that information within the proper context, complete with reflection on the information itself (Green, 2010). Each of these three different terms works as a stepping stone to the next, each becoming more technical, and each providing a more in-depth look into the given subject being discussed. Unfortunately, as a result of the internet and the manner in which content is presented to users, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make these distinctions, though not yet impossible. Data is still considered to be the raw information obtained, though more often than not this is only being applied in the context of what is being gathered by machines for processing later by humans. It is a distinction between information, the processed data, and the concept of knowledge wherein the line is becoming more and more blurred, due in large part to the increasing amount of information, estimated at over a zettabyte four years ago, that is now available at the touch of a button (Blair, 2010).
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3. In dealing with “information” systems, you will encounter the terms “data,” “information,” “knowledge,” and sometimes “wisdom.”
When dealing with all information systems, due to their increased complexity and the amount of content contained therein, it is not unsurprising that the terms data, information, knowledge, and even occasionally wisdom will come into play. Information systems are not simply technical systems that must function within a certain degree of proficiency, they are systems that are operated by people within organizations, working with other people, not all of which have the same level of knowledge or wisdom when it comes to technology; such terms are utilized in order to work to differentiate not only between the different types of content being processed, but the manner in which they are being processed, and are even utilized to identify the maximum allowed level of content that an individual should be able to access or process (Baxter, 2011).
4. Is there really any difference between (these terms) or should a business focus on the “facts” and forget all of the hocus-pocus of the more fancy terms?
There is a distinct difference between the terms data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. The terms themselves, though sometimes used interchangeably, all have different and distinct definitions, which serve to ensure that the base user is able to understand the level of processing that the content being discussed has gone through (Green, 2010). This level of processing works to assist in the identification of the different ways in which the content should be utilized, who should be utilizing the content, and whether or not any further processing is possible at a given time, based on the stage of processing for the specific piece of content.
5. What is important to corporate or operational success? What are these terms? Are they related to one another, and if so, what is the interconnection, and where do people fit in?
There are a variety of different considerations when attempting to determine what is important to corporate or operational success, but they are not confined to simple terms; rather, corporate or operational successes are based on not just what knowledge, information, or data the company may have, but how they choose to use that information and whether or not it is processed in a proper manner. People fit in by working to interpret data, knowledge, and information, attempting to find the most beneficial path for the company or operation to take.
6. Can knowledge be managed?
Knowledge may be managed, to a certain degree, by working to limit the amount of information that a person has available to them for interpretation. This method is not foolproof, however, as it only works to limit the attainment of knowledge through the one channel of information and does not prevent an individual from attaining that knowledge outside of that given channel.
7. Where does wisdom fit in?
Wisdom is the process of being able to take the knowledge that an individual has gained, tempering that information with experience, and being able to use the combination of the two to make sound judgments regarding a given matter. Wisdom follows knowledge on the information chain.
8. Can wisdom be managed?
Wisdom may be managed insomuch as it may be stated that knowledge can be managed; an individual may be prevented from having certain experiences or attaining certain information for processing, but that does not mean that they will not gather either elsewhere.
- Baxter, G. (2011). Socio-technical systems. In LSCITS Socio-Technical Systems Engineering Handbook. University of St Andrews. http://archive.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/STSE-Handbook/
- Blair, A. (2010) Information Overload, Then and Now. The Chronicle of Higher Education Review. http://chronicle.com/article/Information-Overload-Then-and/125479/?sid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en
- Green, P. (2010) Social Media Is Challenging Notions of the Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom (DIKW) Hierarchy. CMS Wire. http://www.cmswire.com/cms/enterprise-20/social-media-is-challenging-notions-of-the-data-information-knowledge-wisdom-dikw-hierarchy–008320.php
- Liu, X. and Errey, C. (2006) Socio-technical systems—there’s more to performance than new technology. http://www.ptg-global.com/
