Information Technology - The technology used in creating, maintaining, and making information accessible.

IT Professional Roles - Administration and Support

System Administrator - Maintains all aspects of the system including hardware, software, and programming.

Network Administrator - In charge of all aspects of the computer network

Database Administrator - Focuses on the design, development, and support of database management systems (DBMSs).

Security Administrator - Installs, configures, and administers firewall security to protect systems and proactively work to stop intrusions.

Web Administrator - Installs, configures, maintains, secures, and troubleshoots web severs.

Support IT Professionals - Help desk and training.

Information - Processed data.

DIKW Hierarchy - Defines the transition of data to information to knowledge to wisdom. (Data Information Knowledge Wisdom)

Data in DIKW - The input directly received by the user (or computer). It is generally not usable until it has been converted into a relevant form.

Information in DIKW - Having been inferred from data; one or more processes have been applied to the data to transform it into a more useful form.

Knowledge in DIKW - Information that has been put to use; information placed into a context. Refined information such that the user of the knowledge is able to call forth only relevant portions of information when needed.

Wisdom in DIKW - Provides a social setting to knowledge; an understanding of the "why". Can only come by having both knowledge and experience.

Information Systems - A collection of data and information used to support the management of an organization. Also refers to the technical components and human resources that enable the assembly, storage, and processing of data and the delivery of information. This has existed for a lot longer than computers.

Characteristics of Quality Data - Relevance - the data being used must apply directly to the decision being made

Timely - data must be efficient and must be provided in a timely manner 

Thorough - the data must be complete