AREAS OF DATA PROCESSING

Data processing maybe classified as either scientific or business in nature.

1. Business Data Processing (DBP). Business data processing is characterized by the need to established, retain, and process files of data for producing useful information. Generally, it involves a large volume of output. For example, a large retail store must maintain a record for each customer who purchases on account.

2. Scientific Data Processing (SDP). In science, data processing involves a limited volume of input and many logical or arithmetic calculations.

3. Data Processing Operations
A data processing processing procedure normally consists of number of basic processing operations performed in some order. The means of manual, electromechanical, or electronic methods are used. Many businesses find that the best solution to their processing requirements is to use a combination of methods.

A. Recoding. Recording refers to the transfer of data onto some form or document. It relatives to the documentation of intermediate figures and facts resulting from calculations.

B. Verifying. Since recording is usually a manual operation it is important that recorded data be carefully checked for any errors. This operations called verifying.

C. Duplicating. It is sometimes necessary or desirable to copy or duplicate data. This operation consists in reproducing the data onto many forms or documents. Duplicating maybe done while the data being recorded manually, or it may be done afterwards by some machines

D. Classifying. This operation separates data into various categories. Identifying and arranging items witch like characteristic into groups or classes is called classifying.

E. Sorting. Arranging data in a specific order is called sorting. After the data are classified, it is usually necessary to arrange or rearrange them in a predetermined sequence to facilitate processing. Sorting is done in an alphabetic or numeric order and the data item which determines the sorting is called the key. Numeric sorting usually requires less time than alphabetic sorting in machine-based processing systems and it therefore generally used.

F. Calculating. Arithmetic manipulation of the data is known as calculating. It is a crucial phase of data manipulation, because the outcome of this operation becomes part of the output. In the calculation of an employee's pay.

G. Summarizing and Reporting. In this operation, a collection of data is condensed and certain conclusions from the data are represented in a meaningful format. To be a value, data must often be condensed or sifted so that the resulting output reports will be clear, concise and effective. Reducing masses of data to a more usable form is called summarizing.

H. Merging. This operation takes two or more sets of data, all sets having been sorted by the same key, and puts them together to form a single sorted set of data.

I. Storing. Placing similar data into files for future reference is storing. Storage is done by any o the following methods;
a. manual - such as in a ledger book, b. electromechanical- in the form of punched cards and c. electronic- by magnetic tape, disk, and main memory of the computer. Data should be stored only if the value of having them in the future exceeds the storage cost.

J. Retrieving. Recovering stored data and/ or information when needed is the retrieving step. Retrieval methods range from searches made by file clerks to the use of quick responding inquiry terminals that are connected directly to a computer .

K. Feedback. Feedback is the comparison of the outputs. and the goal set in advance ; any discrepancy is analyzed, corrected, and feedback to the proper stage in the processing operation.