IMS260 Information Management 3 Lecture 11 Business [Information] Classification Schemes Revision Recent lectures have looked at Function Analysis One aspect of the Function Analysis was to develop a suitable Business Classification Scheme. 2 Outline Purpose of a business classification How the classifications are used Statistical reporting Assistance Trade [agreements] Some examples Some challenges 3 1
Reading James Cook University. National Research Classification http://www.jcu.edu.au/office/research_office/code s/index.html 4 Once more with feeling.. What s a fundamental difference between an IS and an IM system? And what does this mean for classification systems for business? 5 Purpose of a Classification To enable information to be stored in an organised manner to facilitate timely access and easier access to the right information required to support a business process. More generally, the purpose is to enable information to be managed in a manner that is relevant to the agency s business goals and objectives 6 2
Aims of the classification scheme To support the enterprise Relevance [suitability] Logic Consistency Efficiency Quality Management of materials themselves 7 Relevance The scheme must relate to the enterprise s needs. An appropriate scheme will be as small as it needs to be, but provide for growth [extensible]. The facet[s] that provide the basis for the scheme must reflect the requirements of the enterprise. 8 Logical The classification should be able to be apprehended by looking at it. i.e. if it is a system of numbers, then these should be able to be understood by users without the need for extensive training. [Is this possible?] Precisely because the system of classification is arbitrary, it must have a broad-based logic, and not merely an internal logic. 9 3
Consistency The scheme must provide for specific terms. [Scope notes and other hierarchical structures may be needed to make this clear.] The scheme must provide for a consistent mapping between the creators understandings and the users understandings of terms 10 Efficiency The classification is meant to bring information objects to meet the information needs of users quickly and easily. The lectures on retrieval of information indicate that the essential problem of IR is mapping query to retrieval structure, and classification is one key way to achieve that. 11 Two Aspects of Quality The aim of the classification is to so support the enterprise that better quality outcomes are possible The application of the classification system is a quality dependant task without suitable control of its application it will impede the enterprise. [There is (still) a need for authority.] 12 4
Records Management itself Management of the information that is stored. i.e. Use of the classification scheme to decide when records are split, merged, removed, stored [archived] etc. 13 Custom Schemes or Off-The-Shelf A custom developed scheme will have the advantage of specificity; The disadvantages of non-standardisation. Standard Industrial Classification Schemes, for example, will better enable the local system to interface with external systems, reporting, data migration, transfer to new systems, etc. 14 How Industrial Classifications are used Statistics Funding models [Government] Policy process Trade management Research modeling 15 5
Examples Standard Industry Code [U.S. Statistics] The Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) has been developed for use in both countries for the production and analysis of industry statistics. Research Fields, Courses & Disciplines (RFCD) The categories in the Research Fields, Courses & Disciplines classification include recognised academic disciplines & related major sub-fields 16 Standard Industrial Classification Codes CODE DESCRIPTION 1 Agricultural Production--Crops 11 Cash Grains 111 Wheat 112 Rice 115 Corn 116 Soybeans 119 Cash grains, nec 13 Field Crops, except Cash Grains 131 Cotton 132 Tobacco 133 Sugarcane and sugar beets 134 Irish potatoes 139 Field crops, except cash grains, nec 16 Vegetables and Melons 161 Vegetables and melons 17 Fruits and Tree Nuts 171 Berry crops 172 Grapes 173 Tree nuts 174 Citrus fruits 175 Deciduous tree fruits 179 Fruits and tree nuts, nec 18 Horticultural Specialties... CODE DESCRIPTION 9 Fishing, Hunting, And Trapping 91 Commercial Fishing 912 Finfish 913 Shellfish 919 Miscellaneous marine products 92 Fish Hatcheries and Preserves 921 Fish hatcheries and preserves 97 Hunting, Trapping, Game Propagation 971 Hunting, trapping, game propagation 10 Metal Mining 101 Iron Ores 1011 Iron ores 102 Copper Ores 1021 Copper ores 103 Lead and Zinc Ores 1031 Lead and zinc ores 104 Gold and Silver Ores 1041 Gold ores 1044 Silver ores 106 Ferroalloy Ores, Except Vanadium 1061 Ferroalloy ores, except vanadium 108 Metal Mining Services 17 Economic Census [1997] - Numerical List of Manufactured and Natural Mineral Products 2111113 NATURAL GAS 21111131 Natural gas 2111113100 Natural gas (volumes adjusted to pressure base of 14.73 lb absolute at 60 degrees F) shipped to consumers mil cu ft... S 211112 NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS 2111121 NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS 21111211 Isopentane and natural gasoline 2111121111 Isopentane and natural gasoline 1,000 bbl... P,S 21111212 Propane 2111121221 Propane 1,000 bbl... P,S 21111213 Butane 2111121331 Butane 1,000 bbl... P,S 21111214 Plant condensate, ethane, gas mixtures, and other natural gas liquids 2111121441 Plant condensate from natural gas liquids plants 1,000 bbl... P,S 2111121451 Ethane 1,000 bbl... P,S 2111121461 Gas mixtures from natural gas liquids plants 1,000 bbl... P,S 2111121491 Other natural gas liquids 1,000 bbl... P,S 18 6
Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) (level 1) Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Mining Manufacturing Electricity, Gas and Water Supply Construction Wholesale Trade Retail Trade Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants Transport and Storage Communication Services Finance and Insurance Property and Business Services Government Administration and Defence Education Health and Community Services Cultural and Recreational Services Personal and Other Services 19 Research Fields, Courses and Disciplines Classification (RFCD) Arts Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences Architecture, Urban Environment and Building Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences Biological Sciences Chemical Sciences Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering and Technology History and Archaeology Information, Computing and Communication Sciences Journalism, Librarianship and Curatorial Studies Language and Culture Law, Justice and Law Enforcement Mathematical Sciences Medical and Health Sciences Philosophy and Religion Physical Sciences Policy and Political Science Studies in Human Society Where Does SIMS research fit in this? 20 Problems with Classification Schemes Single location of multi-faceted objects Terminology variations in Place Time Changing unanticipated technologies Changing unanticipated legal and other social environments Changing support technologies/infrastructure 21 7
Summary Purpose of a business classification How the classifications are used Statistical reporting Assistance Trade [agreements] Some examples Some challenges 22 8