First let’s ask what’s the difference between data and information? Information is data in context so it can have meaning. The context may be a business process or sales opportunity but information implies an agent that is getting informed. Data doesn’t need context to exist. Data may be at rest in a data store. Information carries the notion of flow or movement. Information is derived from data. Information is data in motion.
The History of Data Governance is Confusing
Information governance is closely associated with records management, security and legal discovery. The professional association for information governance is ARMA, the Association of Records Managers and Administrators.
It appears the discipline of information governance (aka, records management) came before the data governance movement became popular. So, records management is the focus of information governance and data governance, which sounds like it should be more closely related to Information Technology, is always trying to position itself as driven by the business, not IT.
No wonder data governance is confusing to business people.
Common sense says data and information are the same, and the differences you point out seem trivial. Information is data with context doesn’t tell me anything.
Common sense is wrong to equate data with information. Data without context does not inform. The corollary that data defined in some context does produce information.
Displaying undefined data like the following does not inform.
6 Kathy Pepe 8
10 Jessie Martyn 13
13 Al Harley 11
But when you add the context of column headings it becomes information.
Empl Id Empl Name Shoe Size
6 Kathy Pepe 8
10 Jessie Martyn 13
13 Al Harley 11