The Wisdom Hierarchy

 

DATA (know what, where, when)

Symbols that represent, characteristics of objects or events (individual facts)

INFORMATION (know of)

Processed data, describes “who?” “what?” “when?” “where?” “how many”

KNOWLEDGE (know how)

Instructs “how to?”

UNDERSTANDING (know why)

Explains “why?”

WISDOM (know worth)

The ability to see the consequences of our actions by evaluating information, knowledge and understanding

 

See Ben Rockwood’s excellent summary of Russell L. Ackoff’s Wisdom Hierarchy  here: http://cuddletech.com/?p=520.