Data is like the corn flakes

In our information systems and IT shops, computers, communication networks, programs, systems, programmers, indeed, all IT/IS personnel, are merely "factors of production." We don't "eat" the factors of production of corn flakes - the bins which store the corn and other ingredients, machines which roll out the corn, which mix the ingredients, and fill the boxes, and the belts and pipes that move the product in the warehouse, and even the warehouse. No, we eat the corn flakes, just like we "eat" the data. It is the output from our computer information systems which is of value.