A Data–Information– Knowledge–Wisdom Framework for Solving Complex One Health Problems

In this chapter, you first get to know the data, information, knowledge, wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy, and its relevance to decision making in One Health programmes and activities. Focusing on each tier (data, information, knowledge, wisdom), you then get to see practical examples of each from the literature or our own field experience, specifically, the different kinds of data that can be collected, both tangible and intangible, and the various data collection methods employed. Next, you get to learn about different ways to generate information from these data, and how this information can then be incorporated into knowledge. Finally, you will learn about different types of wisdom that may come into play when making decisions. Throughout the chapter, there is a focus on how all these tiers are, or could be, connected to streamline the process while ensuring that all perspectives are represented. At the end of the chapter, we discuss how this hierarchy can be operationalized within all One Health activities and programmes.