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(Winter 2016)

Instructor: Craig Duckett

Lecture 03: Tuesday, January 12th

Data vs. InformationConducting Interviews

42 Questions

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PHASE 1: DISCOVERY DUE: Tuesday, February 2nd, uploaded to Team Web Site and ZIPPED and uploaded to StudentRacker by Phase 1 Project Manager

Phase 2: Design due Tuesday, February 16th

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The Team Project

Five Phase Due Dates

One (1) Team Project for a Client (3-to-4 Members on Team) 1000 points Total

• Phase 1: Discovery (200 Points) DUE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd • Phase 2: Design (200 Points) DUE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16th • Phase 3: Develop (200 Points) DUE TUESDAY, MARCH 1st • Phase 4: Distribute (200 Points) DUE THURSDAY, MARCH 10th • Phase 5: Documentation (200 Points) DUE THURSDAY, MARCH 17th (Last Day of Class)

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A Side Trip

How Data is Stored in the Computer

http://homepage.cs.uri.edu/book/binary_data/binary_data.htm

Representation of Bitmapped Graphics Slide

In an SQL database, we can store large files as BLOBs (Binary Large OBjects)

Data vs. Information

Data raw facts no context just numbers and text

Information data with context processed data value-added to data

summarized organized analyzed

Data vs. Information

Data: 51215 Information:

5/12/15 - The date of your mid-term exam. $51,215 - The average starting salary of a

computer science major. 51215 - Zip code of Snake's Navel, Arkansas

Data vs. Information

Data 6.34 6.45 6.39 6.62 6.57 6.64 6.71 6.82 7.12 7.06

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO INC.

$5.80

$6.00

$6.20

$6.40

$6.60

$6.80

$7.00

$7.20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Last 10 Days

Stoc

k Pr

ice

Information

Data Information KnowledgeData

Information

Summarizing the data

Averaging the data

Selecting part of the data

Graphing the data

Adding context

Adding value

Data Information KnowledgeInformation

Knowledge

How is the info tied to outcomes?

Are there any patterns in the info?

What info is relevant to the problem?

How does this info effect the system?

What is the best way to use the info?

How can we add more value to the info?

Information Systems

Generic Goal: Transform Data into Information

At the Core of an Information System is a Database (raw data).

Information Systems (TSP and PCS)

Data doesn’t just "appear"Capturing Data is really the first step

These systems help capture data but they also have other purposes (goals):

1. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)2. Process Control Systems (PCS)

Discrete, Batch, Continuous

Capturing Data

What kind of data is being captured?

How is this data transformed into Information?

How Is that information transformed into knowledge?

How does that knowledge aid in decision-making?

Data Processing

Recall that a basic system is composed of 5 components1.Input 2.Output 3.Processing 4.Feedback 5.Control

Typically processing helps transform data into information.

Input OutputProcessing

Raw Data Information

Processing

Summarizing Computing Averages Graphing Creating Charts Visualizing Data

A Scenario… Imagine it's 8:00 o'clock in the morning, and you're walking through a factory, that factory is in production, and you notice a pressure gauge on a pipe that shows 2200 psi. That is a piece of data.

You go into the control room and there is a computer screen, and that screen is a graph of pressure, and you can see in fact that the pressure in that pipe is rising for rapidly. This is information provided to you as a time-series of data, data that is presented in such a way that makes sense, that tells you something.

What is the knowledge you need right now? Presented with this information, what do you need to know right now?

The key knowledge you need is what should I do? How should I respond? How should I react to this particular set of circumstances? Should I open a valve? Which valve should I open? Should I close a valve? Should I press the fire alarm and evacuate the factory because it's about to explore, or should I go and tell the director that we are at last on production and we can go and celebrate? If you know how to react, then you can make the correct decision. If you don't have that knowledge, then you're powerless.

That's the difference between the data, the information, and the knowledge. The knowledge is the piece that allows you to make a decision.

Now, where would you get that knowledge?

Knowledge is the factor that allows you to take effective action, to make the correct decision with capability and know-how.

Data Information Knowledge

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Database Design for Mere MortalsChapter 6:Analyzing the Current Database - Conducting Interviews

http://www.heuristichomesteader.com/heuristic_pdf/Database%20Design%20For%20Mere%20Mortals.pdf

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

http://freelancefolder.com/42-questions-every-freelancer-should-ask-their-clients/

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

Taking a gig as a freelancer is often times much more than a temporary decision. A freelance project can involve working with someone for a potentially long period of time, and both you and your clients can have a lot at stake.

If you take a freelancing gig that doesn’t really fit with your skills and abilities you have a much higher risk of winding up with a dissatisfied client or bad client. You could also wind up working much harder and making a lot less money on the project.

It’s important for freelancers to get to know every prospective client before taking on a new job. That’s why I’ve created this list of 42 questions for freelancers to ask prospective clients during the interview/briefing process.

(You probably won’t have to ask all 42 questions to each and every client. Most clients will volunteer a lot of this information, and you’ll also find some of the answers as you do your own research on the client.)

As you examine the answers to these questions, look for differences between the way that you work and your client’s expectations. If you find that there are many differences, you should consider it a red flag and consider referring the project to someone else. If you do decide to proceed with the project, do so with caution.

Here are 42 questions every contractor should ask their clients:

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

Company Background Questions

• What kind of business is your company in?• How long has your company been in business?• What is the size of your company?• What is the company’s reputation?• What is your typical customer like?• Who are your competitors?• What is your address?• What is your phone number?• What is your e-mail address?• What is the best way to contact you?

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

Questions About Work Philosophy

• What is most important to you, quality or speed?• How often do you want updates on my progress?• Do you hire freelancers very often?• Is your preferred work process structured, or unstructured?• If necessary, would it be okay if I used subcontractors or outsourced parts of the project?

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

Project Specific Questions

• What is the purpose of this project?• What sort of background do you expect a freelancer working on this project to have?• How technical is this project?• Describe how you envision the finished project?• How many (words/pages/screens) are needed? (Modify this question for your own specific field.)• What are the specific project instructions?• Do your customers have any special requirements or needs to be met by this project?• Can you show me an example something like what you have in mind?• Who will be my contact for this project?• How available are you (or the contact) to answer questions during the course of the project?• If necessary, will I have access to (your website/company-specific information/etc.)? (Choose one.)• Is it necessary to have any special (equipment/software) to complete this project? (Choose one.)• Do you envision any potential problems with this project?

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

Work Agreement Questions

• What is the budget for this project?• Who will own the intellectual rights to the finished project?• What is the deadline for this project?• How will you be making your payment?• When will you pay?

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42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Clients

Follow Up Questions (After a Project)

• How do you think the project went?• Do you have any suggestions?• Do you anticipate having any other projects based on this one?• Will this project need to be updated or revised at some point?• If the project needs updating, do you consider the updating or revisions to be a separate project?• Are there any other projects that I can do for you?• How often do you need the services of a (writer/web designer/programmer/consultant)? (Choose one.)• Can I use this project as an example on my portfolio? (If the project has gone well.)• Would you be willing to give a testimonial on my work for my web page? (If the client is pleased.)

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Projects and the Team Formations

• Project A: Psychology and College Strategies• In one sentence, what information would you like to get from your data? I would like students to find information related to

what it means to integrate Psychology and College Strategies in real life, real world experiences. • Who are the intended users of your database? Intended users are current students, past students and prospective students

in the Integrated Learning Community I teach for General Psychology and College Strategies.• Denise Michaels dmichaels@cascadia.edu • 425-352-8418 / 425-821-4317• office hours: M/W/F 8-8:30 or by appt. those afternoons

• Project B: WASHINGTON STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION • Carol Description (Register, Fees, Reports)

• Project C: Student Tracker• Craig Description (Grade Tracking Database)

• Project D: Something Else?• Description

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Projects and Team Preferences

Front of Index Card

Your Name

Project Preferences1. Most Favorite...

4. Least Favorite

Team Member Preferences• Would LIKE to team with• Would NOT want to team with

Back of Index Card

Skills Assessment

Team Management Skills (0 – 5)Database Skills (0 – 5)SQL Skills (0 – 5)Design Skills (0 – 5)

Project Idea

Example: Club, recipes, films, music collection, etc

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TEAMS

http://www.glip.com/

https://www.trello.com/

Online Team Collaboration Programs (Free)

http://www.moxtra.com/

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A Look at Phase 1: Discovery DUE Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

A Quick Look