Data, Information & Information Management

Data is raw material for data processing, data relates to fact, event and transactions. Data refers to unprocessed information.

Information is data that has been processed in such a way as to be meaningful to the person who receives it. It's anything that is communicated.

For example, researchers who conduct market research survey might ask a number of the public to complete questionnaires about a product or a service. These completed questionnaires are data, they are processed and analyze in order to prepare a report on the survey. This resulting report is information.

Information Management (IM) is the collection and management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to one or more audiences. This sometimes involves those who have a stake in or a right to that information. Management means the organization of and control over the structure, processing and delivery of information.