Information is the collection of data, knowledge, instructions or information about any subject or topic that is available to the members of the public. Information may also be used to help individuals solve some problem. With the advent of the internet, information has become increasingly available, though at different levels and in different formats. It is important to collect as much information as possible about a particular subject in order to make it easy for decision-making, analysis and action.
Information is generally processed, structured and organised in a systematic manner. It gives context to data and helps decision making. For instance, a single consumer’s sale in a particular restaurant is information-it becomes information after the company has identified the most popular, least popular or typical dish. A business can gain information about suppliers, prices, sales, marketing strategies and production and use it to make decisions. Database management software is used to collect and organise this information.
The developers of database management software need to make it easy for people to process information technology applications, regardless of the languages used or the system architecture. An effective development environment should make it easy for people and IT professionals alike to create, access, manage and share information technology applications. To increase efficiency and maintain productivity, companies that rely on information technology and develop information systems require a strong development environment and the appropriate set of personnel who specialize in information technology.