Course Objectives
At the end of this
workbook you should be better able to:
- understand the need for information and gather information
relevant to your own area of responsibility
- identify a range of information sources which may be used in the
organization
- identify means of collecting and recording data and/or information
- recognize any constraints on the collection of, and access to,
data
- check sources and validity of data
- use the Internet as an information resource
Assessment Criteria
Know how to gather
information
1.1 Use basic data collection techniques to gather information from
external, internal and internet sources
Know how to validate and analyze information and draw conclusions
2.1 Check the validity and accuracy of information gathered
2.2 Analyze information gathered and draw conclusions
Know how to design and analyze questionnaires
3.1 Design a simple workplace questionnaire that includes a minimum
of four different types of questions
3.2 Describe a representative sampling technique
3.3 Briefly describe how the questionnaire could be administered
3.4 Describe a simple technique for analyzing the results of the
questionnaire
International
Curriculum
Unit 3.07 - Official ILM
Curriculum, Institute of Leadership & Management
Course Outline
Session A - VALID INFORMATION
1 Introduction
2 Data and Information (Activity 1, 2)
3 The Need for Information
- The cycle of business activity (Activity 3)
- Information needs (Activity 4)
4 Good Information (Activity 5, 6, 7, 8)
- Accurate, Complete, Clear, User-targeted, Relevant, Authoritative,
Timely, Economic
5 Information Sources
- Internal sources (Activity 9)
- External sources
- Secondary sources (Activity 10, 11)
- Reference books (Activity 12)
- Government (Activity 13)
6 Checking Validity
- Checking data entry (Activity 14)
- Checking the source (Activity 15)
- Evaluating opinions (Activity 16, 17)
Self Assessment, Summary
Session B - COLLECTING AND RECORDING INFORMATION
1 Introduction
2 Information Relevant to Your Job (Activity 18, 19, 20)
- Meeting your targets (Activity 21)
- A practical example of information needs (Activity 22)
3 Means of Collecting Information (Activity 23)
- Big Brother? (Activity 24)
- Data collection devices (Activity 25, 26)
4 Storing Information (Activity 27)
- Computer storage
- Databases (Activity 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
5 Questioning Techniques
- Closed questions
- Open questions (Activity 33, 34)
- Steering the conversation
- Listening to the answer
- Questioning techniques (Activity 35)
6 Questionnaires, Surveys and Observation
- Questionnaire design (Activity 36, 37, 38)
- Surveys
- Sample sizes
- Selecting a sample (Activity 39, 40)
- Observation (Activity 41)
7 Analyzing Data
- Tables (Activity 42)
- Charts
- Cross-tabulations (Activity 43)
8 Constraints on Data Collection
- The Data Protection Act 1998
- Copyright (Activity 44, 45)
- Photocopying
- Letters and other works written by you
Self Assessment, Summary
Session C - THE INTERNET
1 Introduction
2 Internet Basics
3 Searching the Internet
4 Refining a Search
5 Evaluating Internet Information
6 Intranets
7 Internet Abuse
Self Assessment, Summary
Performance checks
1 Quick quiz
2 Workbook assessment
Reflect and review
1 Reflect and review
2 Action plan
3 Extensions
4 Answers to self-assessment questions
5 Answers to activities
6 Answers to the quick quiz
7 Certificate