Data: The Critical Investment
Ron Kistler Program Manager Affiliated Computer Services 247 Industrial Court Fredericksburg, VA, USA 22408 540-898-8500 ext. 4860 Fax: 540-898-5964 Email: Abstract The geospatial technologies in the marketplace today can assist us in completing many tasks that used to require tremendous amounts of experience and/or time. However, if the data that feeds these beneficial systems and applications is not timely and the content is not accurate, the systems and applications will not perform up to our expectations. This presentation looks at data as a critical system element. No matter how sophisticated the various technologies are, applications will falter or even fail if data maintenance is not taken seriously. Maintaining quality data about facilities in an electric utility has never been an easy task. Having distribution maps that always reflect As-Built field conditions is sometimes next to impossible. Ensuring that operations is always informed regarding the current and correct configuration of facilities and devices in the field can sometimes be hit and miss. Complete and accurate data is a necessary investment in the technologies we are implementing. This presentation will consider the following points:
I believe that computer systems today are comprised of four major components - - hardware, software, people and data. Of those four components I would suggest to you that the data component is, more often than not, overlooked. This paper will concentrate on how much of an affect data can have and how critical it ultimately becomes to any enterprise in accomplishing its overall goals in the implementation of computer technology. High quality and accurate data is very costly and should be treated as a corporate investment. It also should be protected and its maintenance should carry a very high priority within the enterprise. It has also been said that good data is the very foundation of virtually every system and, if maintained properly, its life is longer than the system that uses it or the hardware it runs on. I agree with that philosophy. Good quality data allows us to know where our assets are in relation to our customers. It also assists greatly in the effective and efficient operation and maintenance of electrical systems. Business processes can also be operated more effectively with high quality data. Properly maintained and timely data also aids in knowing where maintenance dollars are being spent in relation to the revenue we are generating. In General, How Do We Look At the Task At Hand When It Comes To Data? Most people that I have come in contact with believe that maintaining data is usually someone else's job. Those same people usually complain about mapped information never being right and the fact that there is not enough time in a day for good quality data maintenance. Over the years I have often heard comments like the maps are not right, or the information I received is not correct”. It also seems that, more often than not, people have the perception that implementing a new system or technology will somehow make the data that they deal with on an everyday basis better. There is no “silver bullet” or “magical process” that this author is aware of that can make that happen. Technology can change several things, but it cannot change or alter in any way the quality of existing base data. The process to maintain truly high quality and accurate (content accuracy) data can be very time consuming. Who has the main responsibility for the data? The answer to this question is really a very simple one. Everybody in the organization has a responsibility in maintaining quality data. Even when people are not directly involved in a data gathering effort they should always pay very close attention to the data that they provide others. For example, when someone fills out a form they need to check and double check it to make sure that they didn't transpose a number. This will make sure that the person who receives the form will have correct information. When the person in the field sees something that doesn't match the map they are looking at, they should note it and send the correct information to the mapping department or whomever is responsible to correct the information. And so on and so on. Is Data the Corporate Asset That We Keep Hearing About? I say YES! Just as buildings, furniture, vehicles, or new computer systems are considered to be corporate assets, data MUST be considered a similar kind of asset. It needs to be taken care of and maintained in the best possible way to ensure its longevity. Just like you change the oil in company vehicles or clean the buildings, data needs good maintenance too. It costs a significant amount of money to gather data the first time and I believe that if we treat it like an investment it will have a very long life and help the computer systems yield the benefits we are expecting. Additionally, so that the investment made in data can be protected, keep the following points in mind:
Good quality and accurate (referring to content accuracy) data yields benefits for a corporation in three major categories. Those categories are increased efficiency, operational and strategic. The following provides some detail in each:
What Can Be Done To Change Attitudes About The Critical Importance Of Data? As I see it there are three major challenges, regarding data, facing corporations today - Timeliness, Quality and Cost. All three of which make data a major investment. Our people need to be made aware of this fact and perform their daily work accordingly. How Can Attitudes Be Changed?
| ||
|
|