Characteristics of good quality information

· Concise: Is the information communicated as briefly as possible?

· Meaningful: Is the information presented in relationship to a significant factor, such as a target set by the board, past performance, or comparative data?

· Timely: Is the information relevant to the current agenda? Timely access to the right information is an indispensable source of power in any organisational setting.

· Relevant: Does the information help the board or board committee to discharge its responsibility? Is the information the best indicator of the situation or condition being described. Can better information be provided?

· Context: Why is the information important? Is this made clear in the document?

· Presentation: Identifying the 'right information and finding the best formats in which to present it, are crucial in developing an information system. Could the information be presented better graphically than in words?