The Problem with the Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom Hierarchy

Identifying and defining the hierarchy of mental content, which, in order of increasing value, are: data, information, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. However, the educational system and most managers allocate time to the acquisition of these things that is inversely proportional to their importance.

In contrast, our society understands very little about what it knows. It has ever less understanding and wisdom in relation to the data, information, and knowledge it commands. The immensity of data and information which assaults our lives is not conditioned by a similar increase in social, economic and spiritual values--in a word, wisdom. Our vast... See more