Anticlue

Collecting the right data for the right reasons

As being a part of IT, a large part of our job is to provide systems for data collection. The end purpose of data is for it to be transformed into information that answers business questions, monitors processes, or provides an error listing of the data that needs to be tweaked.

So when implementing a system, there needs to be an assumption that the fields needed for entry will also needed for reporting purposes. For the analysis a couple of questions are needed.

1. Why are we collecting the data? Pretty self explanatory but it does shed light on to the need for the data.
2. How will the data be extrapolated? This is determine the frequency or reporting and the manner, it is granular and detail level, or will it be aggregated and summarized. What various groupings will be needed?
3. Where will the data be collected and where will the data be reported? This determines the point of entry and the point of reporting. These can be two completely different systems, so an integration plan may be needed.
4. What data will be collected? Digging into this question is really necessary because as the data brings information, the analysis of that information will result in the request for more data. Look at assumptions and cover both the foreseen conclusion and the opposite direction.
5. Is there a timeliness to constraint to when the data will be collected? Does this effect the sample or population.
6. Is training needed for those collecting the data? If one is seeking to obtain a new data set, training is probably needed by those who will be responsible for gathering and entering the data.