ABSTRACT
Data represents separate facts about objects. A data element is the smallest unit used to collect and document these facts. Data elements specify the rules to which data must conform, thereby establishing the structure of the data. Data can be viewed as building blocks of information. Data that is collected using data elements is more flexible than data collected using melded data chunks. An anecdote about building a house offers helpful analogies regarding the lack of flexibility caused by not following the one-concept-equals-one-data-element rule. One of the deficiencies in data element standardization procedures is that they focus on naming data elements while other important data element development aspects are underrepresented. The key benefit obtained from ensuring that data elements comply with the one-concept-equals-one-data-element rule is reducing redundancy. Data administrators assist in the creation of data elements by developing the set of attributes that provides the structure to facilitate comprehensive definitions.
