Information as a set of data establishes principles oriented to decision making, it is expected that when a decision is made it will always be the best, but it does not happen that way, there are factors that alter the result, but without a doubt referring to the treatment of information in organizations recognize diffuse information as an agent responsible for bad decisions.
The big question is how do I achieve that the information that I process allows me to make the correct decisions and that the processed information maintains reduced degrees of uncertainty.
Throughout the following writing the importance of information in organizations, the information principle and its generalities are defined. The characteristics that the information must present within the organization are described.
Diffuse information is also described as a responsible agent in making bad decisions and the impact it causes on the organization, as well as the handling of diffuse information through techniques and procedures.
Information principle
Every organization uses the information it has to make decisions and face daily requirements and adversities, handles internal communication processes that allow it to know and know how they are, determine their areas of opportunity and assess the actions that must be taken to give the best solution and lead the entire organization to reach satisfactory levels.
The ideal of any company is to make the best decision and consequently the results always favor you, it does not always happen that way. The risk of deciding an incorrect operation is always probable, but what happened, where was the error, at what point in the decision-making process was it wrong. The likely answer lies in the information that was processed to reach that conclusion that has resulted in losses, market displacement, decline, even bankruptcy.
This complex and poorly processed data set is known as fuzzy information, which makes it difficult to interpret in order to quantify it. Information is an essential part of organizations, which allows them to achieve high levels of competitiveness and allows the possibility of development. Then the information becomes essential when making decisions.
It is necessary to understand from the basic concept what information is, and then include in the definition the best interpretation of data available to the organization's environment, therefore, the consequence will be to make the best decision and the result will be as expected.
The information is defined in a multidisciplinary way, some specific basic concepts are:
Chiavenato defines information as “a set of data with a meaning, that is, that reduces uncertainty or increases the knowledge of something. In truth, information is a message with meaning in a given context, available for immediate use and that provides guidance for actions by reducing the margin of uncertainty regarding our decisions.
According to Ferrell and Hirt, information "comprises the data and knowledge used in decision-making"
The concepts vary according to the experience and field of research of each author and / or publication, but all agree on the premise that information is the set of processed data that reduces uncertainty, allowing to expand or specify previously acquired knowledge.
Starting from the concept and with the understanding that the definition of information is understood, organizations must value their data, anyone who presents ambiguity or does not conform to what is sought must be discriminated so as not to create uncertainty in the results.
When the information is validated and knowledge is generated, the possibility of making decisions based on the interpretation obtained at the time of processing the data will then proceed.
By then the information that is processed and from which decisions have been made must directly and indirectly affect the internal processes in the organization, therefore, the correct flow of information through the entire business communication system must be considered.
Organizational information
Any organization that knows how to take advantage of the information it has available and at its fingertips makes it efficient. The most important thing is that the available information becomes knowledge and that knowledge is acquired by the managers who control the organization, and thus allows them to make correct decisions aimed at achieving the objectives.
As part of the assets of the organization, also called assets, it is possible to identify the tangible, that is, physical possessions such as land, cars, facilities. But within the asset classification there is a special one for that asset that is not tangible but intangible, the asset that the organization has and gives it an added value such as patents, authorship, trademarks, industrial formulas, data protection, software design and especially the information that the organization processes
Due to the economic weight and importance of the intangible asset, it has come to be considered the most important, displacing the tangible asset from the hierarchical order of priorities. And it turns out that for some companies their true business value is located in the intangible, for example Google, the brand itself is worth more than the entire company worldwide, of course Google's information is an elemental part of its brand.
The use of information depends on the existence of a correct interaction between the organization and the outside, in addition to unifying interdepartmental relations so that the information flows in the correct direction and interpretation.
The important thing about information within each company is that it generates knowledge and decreases the uncertainties of its collaborators, thus increasing efficiency and therefore allowing certain characteristics to be met, for example:
- It must fulfill the function of generating knowledge that allows it to define decisions.
- Create elements of competitiveness, that is, not only have the ability to create and position products, but also meet the demands of the market. This is achieved when the organization attends to the information around it, looks out.
- It is necessary to maintain a relationship between the elements that make up the organization, it seems that each one has its own objective, but in reality the information of one may be essential for the other.
Thanks to the correct flow of information, internal processes are improved.
Unclear, fuzzy information
The importance of managing information through a correct and understood flow has been mentioned, as well as the generalities that must be met for a productive operation.
However, normally the internal information that is handled is not always clear, even less specific, which makes it complex and difficult to interpret. Therefore, diffuse information is understood to be information that is unclear, ambiguous, imprecise and difficult to interpret.
The diffuse information cannot be avoided within the analysis in the decision making, but if it encourages to deepen the source and consequently forces to expand the panorama of the organization, if this is specified then the organization will obtain valuable information to make the best decision.
The management of this type of information in the organization is of relevant importance, although it cannot be avoided as mentioned, if it can be reassessed, when there is a lot of information available with a high degree of uncertainty, it should be done, the result even helps to improve the data collection and capture, as well as information flow management in internal processes.
The following scheme represents the management of fuzzy information through an assessment process where the result becomes useful knowledge in decision making.
Information management through valuation analysis to obtain useful knowledge. Own elaboration
The information assessment process is also known as diffuse information management, within this information processing there are techniques and studies applied for its particular treatment depending on the circumstances in which the information is developed, therefore the information management Fuzzy follows a process that strives to guide you to make correct decisions.
Management of fuzzy information
Information management for decision-making must be developed through senior management, who has the responsibility of leading the organization on stable paths, seeking the best corporate strategies.
In general, the procedure for handling fuzzy information is mentioned.
- Information need. The basic need to have information and to leave me knowledge is basic and essential of the information process, the need for knowledge arises, therefore it will be necessary to seek information from different internal and external media, at this time the information is in large quantities, disorganized, unclassified. Now is the time to stop and check if the information obtained is useful, specific to my needs or is diffuse. When it is diffuse, it must be evaluated by measuring what I am looking for, what I expect, immediately discrimination begins to run through the selection of the useful. It is time to process the information, the order takes place, hierarchies, accommodates, classifies and begins the evaluation of results. It is a peak stage before moving on to decision making.
At this stage of the process, the information is subjected to procedures to identify and obtain clarity to reduce uncertainty, the most common techniques known as tools for handling fuzzy information.
Among them is:
- Qualitative analysis. Normally it is based on the perception of the evaluator, it is merely subjective, so one way to eliminate subjectivity as much as possible is through data processing by means of computer tools; heuristic software and methods that seek to qualify subjective data with standard numerical references.
- Quantitative analysis. From the technical point of view, it is the best method to determine a decision-making, since it is not reduced in subjectivity but through the analysis of real data, the technique facilitates decision-making.
- Diffuse logic. It is a method that seems to be subjective but involves quantitative analysis through a computational mathematical modeling that is capable of processing an infinity of diffuse information and transforming it into the best option for decision making.
F. When the process has reached this point, it is time to make the best decision based on the analysis of the information from the fuzzy information management tools.
Diffuse information as an obstacle in decision-making .
Every organization uses the information it has to maintain and develop. The external and internal environment directly influence which decision should be taken, but if the information obtained is diffuse, not understood or complex, it is certain that decision-making will not be ideal, rather mistakes will be made that can costing the organization unfavorable consequences.
It is therefore necessary to treat the diffuse information as an external agent that has access to the interior of the organization and that must be revalued, always paying attention to any eventuality outside the organization's controls.
conclusion
It is impossible to conceive the success and permanence of an organization without information management, it is necessary and vital in its internal processes to carry out basic actions.
But undoubtedly the actions that determine the operation of the organization are decision making. Each action taken to be applied within the control of the organization must guarantee that everything was planned according to an analytical endorsement of each of the possibilities and in conclusion this has been the best.
Decision-making is then directly affected by diffuse information, if it is not attended to in a particular way, decisions will surely have to be vulnerable to the aggressiveness of the external market, the organization is constantly in danger.
Suggested thesis topic
Reduction of the degree of uncertainty in decision-making through the implementation of the fuzzy logic tool in a freight transport company.
objective
Reduce the degree of uncertainty in the decision making of a freight transport company by implementing the fuzzy logic tool.
References
- C., FO, & Geoffrey, H. (2004). Introduction to Business in a Changing World. McGraw-Hill Interamericana, Carrera, GA (June 7, 2011). Scribd. Obtained from Disseminated Information Management: http://es.scribd.com/doc/57256980/INFORMACION-DIFUSA#scribdChiavenato, A. (2006). Introduction to the General Theory of Administration. In A. Chiavenato. McGraw-Hill Iberoamericana. Cortés, CA (May 21, 2013). Gestiopolis. Obtained from Management of diffuse information in organizations: http://www.gestiopolis.com/manejo-de-informacion-difusa-en-lasorganizaciones/Escobar, D. d. (November 21, 2013). Gestiopolis. Obtained from Management of diffuse information in the organization: http://www.gestiopolis.com/manejode-informacion-difusa-en-la-organizacion/Pérez, I., & León, B. (2007). Fuzzy Logic for Beginners: Theory and Practice.Caracas: Text, CA
