Data Processing
In any information system application, the method generally
followed is to design modular and hierarchical steps of processing leading to an
output in a report form or information having certain – value specific or
perceived – as seen by the user. The
steps involved are data processing, transaction processing, application
processing and system processing.
Data is the smallest atomic entity in the information system
which is basic to build the information system. The character of data decides
the quality of information it offers to the user, if the data is taken care of
properly, its usage will ensure quality output.
Hence, in any information system significant care is taken in building
the data as a first level input to the system.
The data is built through data design and modeling process which provides
specification and character to the data. These specifications and characters are
used throughout the information system for a variety of applications. Data processing is handling raw data in a
systematic manner to confirm to the data quality standards as determined by the
designer of the information system.
Let us take a simple example of a data used extensively in
every application. Though the data
is a universal entity in nature, it still requires determination of
specification, character and presentation.
A data is isolation conveys the position of the day in a calendar. In the information system, however, it
may convey a number of things to the user.
First, therefore, it needs specification. It is necessary to specify how
the data will be specified, whether in the form of DD-MM-YY or MM-DD-YY or
YY-MM-DD. So the data `date' has a specific order of positioning and presenting.
Its interpretation also changes beyond it generic meaning as a day in the
calendar.
