Moving up the value chain – data, information, knowledge, wisdom

What’s the difference between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom?

John Bredehoft pointed me to an academic definition from Sujatha Das, in her post Difference between Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.

Value increases dramatically with each step up. Knowledge is far more valuable that just information. Wisdom far surpasses knowledge in value.

Words as a creative visualization? Part 2

Previous post introduced the idea that software could take raw data and convert it to a usable news article.  My friend John Bredehoft introduced the idea to me.

I think it is a great way for creative visualization of raw data.  Good way to help us understand a mass of numbers.

What does an auto-written article look like? 

Here are a few examples I found.  They are all on the Forbes website, where Narrative Science is credited as the author.

Words as a creative visualization? Part 1

I enjoy watching for creative ways to explain things.

I’ve discussed rap videos to explain economics, the federal budget illustrated on a one-page chart, and using one map to show the destruction of Napoleon’s army during his invasion of Russia. That one map does a better job of telling the story that a 1,000 word article and far faster than a 100 page book.

I have tried my hand at creative visualizations by producing two animated cartoons.  They tell the story of setting up good internal controls in a local church. Part one has received over 900 views on YouTube. Part two is here.

Here’s a big brain stretch for you – using a computer program to turn raw data into a story – creative visualization using words

Creative Visualization – mapping the growth of retail stores

Check out these time-lapsed maps showing the growth of a retail chain from Flowing Data.  Great visualization of the speed and location of new stores.  Also shows the diffusion across the country.

Lets you see the data of Walmart from 1 store in 1962 to 4,393 in 2010.

Check out these visuals:

Rap video on government distortions of supply and demand

Check out Supply & Demand: A Thug Story

Government interference with the pricing mechanism produces shortages which are resolved by non-price mechanisms: discrimination, waiting lines, rationing, black markets, or favoritism.  Markets messed up?  Look for government messing with price signals to find the cause.

Federal budget illustrated on a one-page chart – example of creative visualization

The Domino Project (Seth Godin’s new publishing effort) has published Death & Taxes.

It is a chart showing the federal budget on just one page. Good example of creative visualization.

A field trip from August 2011 to August 1981 and back

John Bredehoft has a creative two-part post comparing technology in 2011 and 1981. Focus is on the change in portability – the ease of getting news anywhere and being able to reach someone anywhere.

What if modern portability existed, or didn’t exist, 30 years ago?

More on changes in portability

Communication then:

What if US metropolitan areas were independent countries?

Previously looked at a visual comparing US states to other countries. This visual compares metropolitan areas to countries.

If U.S. Cities Were Countries, How Would They Rank?

A few tidbits from the article:

• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana has a GDP comparable to Netherlands, which makes it sized same as the 18th largest economy in the world

“If you care about improving people’s lives, then you really care about economic freedom”

How do we make life better for people?

Is there a relationship between the level of economic freedom in a country and the level of income, life expectancy, civil rights, and a cleaner environment? Is there an inverse relationship between the level of economic freedom and the level of corruption, infant mortality, and child labor?

The answer to both questions is yes.

The higher the level of economic freedom is in a country, the higher the level of those good things.  With more freedom there are less of those bad things. See this very innovative, creative video, from the Charles Koch Foundation, for a visual explanation:

 

New feature cartoon on internal control

New cartoon is available at Once Upon Internal Control.

Good procedures protect against false accusations – feature cartoon #2 from Once Upon Internal Control illustrates another way that good procedures can  protect your staff. Cartoon runs about 8 1/2 minutes.

The first feature cartoon is here.

How’s this for creativity? Teaching accounting, auditing, and IT through a murder mystery?

I am enjoying the idea of teaching accounting or economics or other complex stuff through some creative method. Have had several posts on the topic. So intrigued by the idea that I’ve started producing cartoons. (See my other blog, once upon internal control.)

How’s this for an idea? Writing a full-length murder mystery novel with the goal of teaching auditing, taxes, IT and forensic accounting. That has been the approach of Prof. Larry Crumbley. In his spare time he has written 13 educational novels. Started back in 1988.

Feature length cartoon up – discussion of bank reconciliations and offering count in a local church

Some short scenes have been combined into a 9 minute cartoon along with an intro and extro. The first of several feature-length cartoons is available on my other blog, Once Upon Internal Control. This one discusses some creative internal controls over cash and a few ideas on how to maintain security over the offering until it is counted by the count team. More to follow!

Cartoon can be found at:

Once Upon Internal Control – part 1

 

Conclusion to the tale of Southside Community Church – cartoon #4 posted

 Posted at Once Upon Internal Control: The exit interview with the reporter who was investigating reports of extravagant spending. Final cartoon in the tale of the church that did internal controls well can be found here.

All four cartoons plus the intro will be rolled into a feature cartoon.

Cartoon posted to illustrate good controls protect the innocent from false accusations

I have a new cartoon posted at Once Upon Internal Control showing good internal controls in a local church. The dramatization is based on a reporter calling for comment about rumors of a high-flying lifestyle.

Cartoon called: When a reporter calls, good procedures save the day. Visit the other blog for the cartoon. I will be posting cartoons there.

Dual control over offering count explained in new cartoon

One place where churches often struggle to have good procedures is the way they count the offering.  Those struggles discussed in my cartoon: