What are data, information, and knowledge? How are they related?
Data are raw facts and figures that on their own have no meaning. So, they have to be organized and arranged into a form that people can understand and use. These can be any alphanumeric characters i.e. text, numbers, symbols. Information is data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to human beings. Meaning that a firm to achieve its aims will need to process data into information. So data needs to be turned into meaningful information and presented in its most useful format. Therefore, data has to be processed within a context or form to give meaning “information”.

Knowledge is the understanding of rules needed to interpret or understand information. For example, a Marketing Manager could use this information to decide whether or not to raise or lower price of certain product. Therefore, there are knowledge workers who have specialist knowledge that makes them “experts” based on formal and informal rules they have learned through training, experience and gained information such as doctors, managers, librarians, scientists.

Therefore, knowledge depend on interpreted information which depend on shaped data.

2. What is information systems architecture? Infrastructure? What is an intranet? An extranet?
An information system architecture is the coordination of business processes and rules, systems structure, technical framework, and product technologies for a business or organizational information system. An information system architecture usually consists of four layers: business process architecture, systems architecture, technical architecture, and product delivery architecture. To elaborate it is the coordination of business processes among strategic level, management level, knowledge level which involves customers md business partners and suppliers and operation level which involves sales and marketing, manufacturing and production, finance and accounting and finally human resources.

information technology (IT) infrastructure Computer hardware, software, data, storage technology, and networks providing a portfolio of shared IT resources for the organization.

Intranet is an internal network based on Internet and World Wide Web technology and standards; however, extranet is a Private intranet that is accessible to authorized outsiders. To elaborate, the Intranet is a computer network system in which a specific organizational systems share information, computing services and operational systems with each other by using an Internet. This term basically refers to the network of a specific organization or a private network. Authenticated users of the organization can access the database system, search engines, directory and can distribute documents and workflow. Employees can makes interactive communication in shape of chatting, audio and videoconferencing, groupware and teleconferencing. The Extranet is linked with Intranet. Extranet is a kind of computer network that allows the outside users to access the Intranet of organization. This network system is basically used for business to business (B2B) purposes. This system basically allows the outside users of an organization, like partners, suppliers, vendors and other stakeholders to remain in touch with the activities of organization. Information and data access performed through a proper account or link system.