At what point does data become knowledge?

Interesting question. At what point does data become knowledge? Think for a minute about the number of ways that you gather data, the different formats, systems, log-ins, networks, emails, phone calls, meetings, etc... How many of you have a password protected spreadsheet for all your passwords? And for those of us social media junkies, how many of you are on Facebook, Twitter, Yammer, LinkedIn, Flicker, YouTube, Google+, Ning, and I'm sure I missed one or twelve.

I bet you could draw a direct analogy of the number of social media sites to the number of business systems most of you use today to access data. And it not like the data is collected because you have some sort of hoarder connection to it - we need it to make informed decisions, identify trends, fix problems, focus on what's selling...

Anyway, just a quick post today not really an overly insightful post, just something I was thinking about and hopefully fodder for a discussion. So what do you think - When does data become knowledge?

No hoarders were harmed during the creation of this post...
-Rob 

P.S. Had to add this from Twitter:

My response: 

 

Comments

[Swertel]

Information (or data) becomes knowledge through application.
Knowledge becomes wisdom through experience.

[Sauli Kiviranta]

You may want to read this article...

Google: Nonaka 1994 dynamic theory organizational knowledge creation

Snippet: "Four Modes of Knowledge Conversion: The assumption that knowledge is created through conversion between tacit and explicit knowledge allows us to postulate four different “modes” of knowledge conversion: (1) from tacit knowledge to tacit knowledge, (2) from explicit knowledge to explicit knowledge, (3) from tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge, and (4) from explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge."

Also the Nonaka 2009 paper you could take a look at.

[Chris H]

data: Organized information generally used as the basis for adjudication or decision. Commonly, organized information, collected for a specific purpose. (Black's 6th)
Collected information; known FACTS(Ballantine's 3rd)

knowledge: Acquaintance with FACTS or truth.
personal knowledge: Knowledge of the truth in regard to a particular FACT [i.e., data] or allegation, which is original, and does not depend on information or hearsay. (Black's 6th)
A person's direct knowledge of anything, as distinguished from that which he learns by hearsay.

Q: "WHEN DOES DATA BECOME KNOWLEDGE?"
A: NEVER ...

Data is an ELEMENT of Knowledge.
It is impossible for an ELEMENT of a thing to BE the thing itself.

Cheers ... Chris H