Parameter of Quality
The parameters of a good quality are difficult to determine,
however, the information can be termed as of a good quality if it meets the
norms of impartiality, validity, reliability, consistency and age.
Impartial information contains no bias and has been collected
without any distorted view of the situation. The partiality creeps in, if the
data is collected with a preconceived view, a prejudice, and a pre-determined
objective or a certain motive.
The validity of the information relates to the purpose of the
information. In other words, it is
the answer to the question – does the information meet the purpose of decision
making for which it is being collected?
The validity also depends on how the information is used.
Since the information and the purpose need not have one to one correspondence,
the tendency to use it in a particular situation may make the information
invalid.
It is connected to the representation and the accuracy of
what is being described. For example, if the organization collects the
information on the product acceptance in the selected market segment, the size
of the sample and the method of selection of the sample will decide the
reliability.
The information is termed as inconsistent if it is derived
from a data which does not have a consistent pattern of period. Somewhere, the information must relate to
a consistent base or a patter.
For example, you have collected the information on the
quantity of production for the last twelve months to fix the production norms.
If in this twelve months period, the factory has worked with variable shift
production, the production statistics of the twelve months for comparison is
inconsistent due to the variable shift production. The consistency can be
brought in by rationalizing the date to per shift production per month.
The regularity in providing the information also helps in assessing the
consistency in the information.
If the information is old, it is not useful today. The
currency of the information makes all the difference to the users. If the
information is old it does not meet any characteristics of the information viz.,
the update of knowledge, the element of surprise and the reduction of
uncertainty, and the representation.
