Answers will vary. The quality of information is determined by its usefulness to users, and its usefulness determines the success of an information system. To be useful, information must have the following qualities:
a. Timeliness
b. Integration with other data and information
c. Consistency and accuracy
d. Relevance
If information lacks any of these qualities, the results are incorrect decisions, misallocation of resources, and overlooked windows of opportunity. If the system cannot give users a minimum level of confidence in its reliability, it will not be used or users might dismiss the reports it generates. Information must provide either a base for users to explore different options or insight into tasks.
Another factor affecting the usefulness of information is the information system’s user interface. Because this interface must be flexible and easy to use, most information systems make use of graphical user interfaces, with features such as menus and buttons. To be useful, information systems should also produce information in different formats, including graphics (e.g., pie charts and bar graphs), tables, and exception reports, which highlight information that is outside a specified range. Supplying information in a variety of formats increases the likelihood of users understanding and being able to use the information. |