News Release: June 23, 2008

DONNELL SYSTEMS ADVOCATES USING INFORMATION WISELY

“Data is computer content used by systems and people to create information,” Donnell explains. “Information is output from a system and once created it is ‘Fixed Content.’ ” The people who receive and utilize information are called “Users.”

“You have tons of data in your machine,” he says. “That’s not information.” The difference between information and data is also a point at which responsibilities change from an IT community to the user community.

“Inside a corporation, the IT community is definitely the stewards of the data,” responsible to create and maintain a system of computers and networks.

The users – CEOs, CFOs, etc. – and not the IT department – are responsible for the information fashioned from the data. Donnell customers are typically in the medical, financial, government and manufacturing fields.

“What tools do users currently have to get their job done with information?” Donnell asks. “Ultimately, we’re able to give them better tools and automation and at the same time reduce costs.”

The distinction between information and data places the database in a very different role. Donnell says it’s not the database that should be archived, but rather those pieces of information – the “Fixed Content” – created from the database that should be archived.

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