The Data Lifecycle


To finish up this module we are going to look at the data lifecycle which defines the steps a piece of data, or a data point, goes through as it is handled within any organization. This applies equally to small businesses, government, large corporations and nonprofits. That said, we will return to the data lifecycle on a farm in greater detail in 📊⁠⁠Module 3: Working with Data⁠ .


On the surface it is easy to focus on how data is acquired, or captured. While this is a critical step, it is actually just the first of five important steps that define the data lifecycle. Let’s take a quick look at each major step along this journey:

1. Acquisition - Data acquisition is the first step in the data lifecycle. Raw data can be input manually or captured automatically using electronic sensors.

2. Storage - Once the data is collected, it needs to be stored so it can be processed and ultimately put to use by the organization. Storage can be done locally (e.g. laptop, mobile phone, etc.) or in the cloud. 

3. Processing - Before the data is put to use it must be processed or cleaned to fix incorrect, inaccurate, irrelevant, duplicated, or incomplete data. Processing can also include changing the data to a common, or standardized, format. 

4. Usage - After it has been stored and processed, the data can be put to use to create value within the organization or business.

5. Disposal - Although it is easily forgotten, proper disposal of the data after it is no longer needed is an important step. This helps to manage long term storage costs, as well as privacy and security risks.  

Each step in the data lifecycle is important, but it is critical to remember that each step in the journey is the result of decisions made by the organization and people responsible for the data system. Even in the case of a highly automated system, important decisions need to be made about what data to collect, how it is stored, and ultimately how it is deleted after it is no longer useful. We will return to these types of decisions in the context of farm businesses in later modules.    



Next:  ⁠⁠Summary⁠