Turning Data Into Information

Turning Data Into Information Public managers want information for decision making and those decisions must be based on data. One challenge to new public managers is figuring out how to use data to derive information that can be presented in a meaningful format to elected officials and managers who must make decisions on policies, regulations, staffing, and public information that affect the public sector. Open the Excel database of Georgia hunting/fishing violations recorded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Use the data to derive three findings that could be helpful in decision-making for DNR managers. (You will need to sort data to come up with some conclusions.) Describe your findings in the form of charts (graphs) with explanatory notes (a few sentences is fine). Be sure to include a title and the axis titles, so that you are showing your results. If you were the public manager at DNR, how could you use the information to address problems with violations or to change policy? Be specific about your findings. (For example, are there areas where fines vary widely? Are there problem areas where there are many fines? Do fines deter lawbreakers?