| Internal Memories | External Memories |
| internal to person | external to person |
| well organized | have to be well organized to be useful |
| memory decays over time | no memory decay |
| fast | very large |
| might get overloaded | supports internal memory |
| convenient |
Using paper as an example, here are the common features to most individual memory systems:
A well-organized student uses the cloud to store details of events, contacts, and so forth. These data are then accessible through a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Student identifier, semester, call number of the class, and number of credit hours (if needed). The student's name, the class name, the instructor's name, and other person- or class-specific information do not have to be given since the administration can derive these from the student identifier and the call number respectively.
Attributes of organizational memory are sharability, security, accuracy, timeliness, and relevance. All of these attributes are very important.
Data are relevant when they help to solve an existing problem. The most difficult thing to decide is which data will be relevant for future decisions.
Measuring the quality of a decision is not a simple task and this problem perplexes many managers. Most people decide that examining the outcome is the best guide to decision quality:
A key point to note is that you cannot generally measure the quality of a decision until some time after it is made.
In contrast to linear text, hypertext has built-in linkages between sections of text. These links enable the reader to quickly jump from one part of the text to another. An organizational memory system contains massive amounts of data on various topics. Hypertext can simplify the required data and enable faster access to it.
External memories are memory stores outside of the organization. Often it is too much effort for a single organization to collect all potentially relevant data. Some organizations have specialized in providing data to other organizations (e.g, various government departments and credit bureaus).
A DSS is a computer system that supports decision makers through the use of data and mathematical models. Typically, DSSs are used to analyze existing problems and prepare for the future.
This page is part of the promotional and support material for Data Management (open edition) by Richard T. Watson |