Data is generated with every email, every spreadsheet, every price, and every estimate. It’s out there, and with more generated each day, unless it’s properly looked after, the data gets lost in the volume.
The trick is to turn the data into information at the time of generation. And to organize the information in a way to allow efficient recall.
How much time do we spend looking up information that should be easily accessible? With more and more data being digital, there really is no excuse for not being able to find what’s being sought.
Even search tools, like Google Desktop Search, will not help much unless the issue of retrieval is thoughtfully considered. Just like file structures were used in the past, a digital equivalent must be implemented and enforced company wide.
It takes additional effort to relate the data to other data and turn it into information and knowledge. All this takes effort. It’s this investment, if made a top priority by employees, that will create incredible value for the company and will create a competitive edge.
For example, a question was asked today how much it should cost to provide epoxy flooring on a concrete floor slab. This information should be readily available to all employees. Surely one employee has had experience with the costs and pricing of this work. Estimating must have the data. But has the trade quote been related to the applied square footage? And what are the other extenuating circumstances relating to the price? Maybe the product, thickness, and substrate preparation should be indicated.
Unless this data is combined in a meaningful way at inception, each question results in wasted time and effort.
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