Data visualization in information systems

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Like any system, information systems are characterized by integrating a set of different elements that, from this functional diversity, participate in the achievement of the same objective (in this case related to the communication and information needs of an organization). It is not necessary to place ourselves in a technologically advanced context (such as that provided by business intelligence) to design and develop an information system; As long as it meets the characteristics that we have just stated, there is no need to resort to BI or ICT tools. However, we have already commented on numerous occasions the importance that information systems acquire for organizations that rely on data as one of their main assets (on which they build their objectives, design their respective strategies and support decision making). . Therefore, having a BI environment is increasingly crucial to getting the most out of an information system, something that we will see today in relation to one of the key pieces of these systems: data visualization tools.



Elements and functions of information systems An information system, as we said, is made up of several elements that fulfill different functions, all of them aiming at the same objective: facilitating access and management of information , mainly. Based on this, we can distinguish the following types of functions with their respective tools: Data collection : a process that can be carried out in different ways and using USA Student Phone Number List different types of tools, but which always consists of locating the data sources that are deemed appropriate and channeling the flow of data and information to the same center or base. of data. There is no doubt that, currently, the enormous variety of sources and channels through which corporate databases are fed requires the adoption of appropriate filter tools to select, in the first instance, the most relevant data that comply with minimum quality requirements . Data storage : includes the design and preparation of the databases that will house the data and information from the appropriate sources, with the aim of making them easily treatable, analysable, and manageable.





A process known by the generic name of data warehousing. Data analysis : the data, after being collected and stored, must be prepared to be subjected to the analytics that are deemed appropriate based on corporate needs. The greater the volume and variety of stored data, and the speed with which data warehouses are fed , the more powerful data analysis tools will be required, capable of transforming this data into relevant information. Information Translation – This is where visualization tools come into the picture. The purpose of any information systems is, we repeat, to facilitate access to relevant and sensitive information (and, therefore, to provide knowledge about the organization and its environment). Therefore, it will be useless to have tools for obtaining, storing and analyzing data that optimally fulfill their mission, if when the time comes to translate the results of the analysis, the information is not presented in an understandable and intuitive way. This is where the great importance of data visualization for information systems lies, a matter that is explained in greater detail and depth in resources such as the guide (completely free) Data visualization: the power of the visual in the presentation of your reports.