| Certain qualities distinguish good, valuable information | | | | reduced worth and can even be costly or time |
| from that which is misleading, worthless or just plain | | | | consuming. You can judge the relevance of |
| bad. These qualities ensure that transformed data is | | | | information by assessing it in terms of the |
| valid, reliable and properly communicated. However, | | | | information needs or requirements. Having to sift |
| some aspects of information are more critical than | | | | through information to get what you need |
| others are. Accuracy, completeness, relevance, | | | | significantly devalues the information package. |
| timeliness and clarity are significant components of | | | | 4. Timeliness |
| good information - regardless of who the user is or | | | | Since information is indexed to a user (or users) and |
| the purpose of the information. | | | | has a specific reason for being produced, it follows |
| 1. Accuracy | | | | that information is required within a certain period. For |
| Information must be representative of some aspect | | | | instance, few would read an article titled "The best |
| of reality. It must be accurate enough to fulfil its | | | | gifts for Christmas in 2000." That article might be able |
| purpose and properly inform the intended user. In | | | | to provide some interesting information, but it is |
| some contexts, it must be accurate down to the | | | | dated. This affects how readers may perceive the |
| finest detail or decimal point. However, the accuracy | | | | value of it compared to an article that talks about |
| of information is inherently contextual. For some | | | | the best Christmas gifts in general or one written for |
| purposes, only sufficient accuracy is necessary. If | | | | the current year. In the same way, information |
| transformed data is not accurate enough for its | | | | required for decision-making should reach the decision |
| purpose, any action or inferences made based on it | | | | makers to give them ample time to consider it. Users |
| would be fundamentally flawed and have serious | | | | generally determine the timeliness of information. |
| consequences. | | | | 5. Clarity |
| 2. Completeness | | | | Information can be relevant, complete and all the |
| Incomplete information would not properly satisfy the | | | | rest, but it must be understandable to its user(s). |
| needs of the particular user. Completeness | | | | You can achieve clarity by using the right channel of |
| encompasses all that the user requires or wants for | | | | communication, reducing 'noise and having clear, legible |
| a particular purpose (excluding irrelevant data). If | | | | or well formatted presentation. Organizing, labelling |
| pertinent information were missing, then the | | | | and properly structuring information are critical to |
| information user would be unable to use it effectively | | | | achieve clarity and thus enhance its quality and value. |
| or would be otherwise disadvantaged when using it. | | | | Ideally, good information possesses all of the |
| 3. Relevance | | | | aforementioned characteristics - although in certain |
| Users of reports or documents do not want a heap | | | | contexts, some characteristics may be more or less |
| of information that does not suit their short or | | | | important than others are. |
| long-term purpose. Irrelevance results in limited or | | | | |