Introduction
As technology advances, organizations have access to more data than ever before.
Yet many still struggle to make better decisions.
Why?
Because data alone is not enough.
Data
Data consists of raw facts.
Examples:
- Reservoir elevation
- Water flow
- Temperature
- Production output
By themselves, these values have limited meaning.
Information
Information provides context.
When data is organized and presented in a meaningful way, it becomes information.
For example:
Reservoir elevation is decreasing at a rate of 100 acre-feet per day.
Now the data tells a story.
Knowledge
Knowledge combines information with experience and understanding.
An experienced operator may understand:
- What the trend means
- What caused it
- What actions should be considered
Knowledge connects information to action.
Wisdom
Wisdom goes one step further.
Wisdom incorporates judgment.
It answers questions such as:
- What should we do?
- What are the risks?
- What are the tradeoffs?
- What happens next?
Wisdom is often developed through years of experience.
Why This Matters
Many organizations focus heavily on collecting data.
Far fewer focus on converting that data into knowledge and wisdom.
Technology can help us gather information.
People ultimately provide judgment.
Closing Thoughts
Data is plentiful.
Wisdom is rare.
The challenge is not collecting more information.
The challenge is helping people transform information into better decisions.
