---
id: "prereq-structured-vs-unstructured-data"
type: "prereq"
source_title: "Don't Let AI Slop Muck Up Your Company's Processes"
source_url: "https://hbr.org/2026/06/dont-let-ai-slop-muck-up-your-companys-processes"
source_timestamps: ["§ 1. Keep track of the provenance of unstructured data."]
tags: ["data-science", "information-systems"]
related: ["concept-unstructured-data-provenance"]
reason: "Required to implement the authors' recommendation regarding data provenance tracking."
sources: ["execution"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-execution"
originDay: 8
articleStem: "hbr-sig-54-ai-slop-processes"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/06/dont-let-ai-slop-muck-up-your-companys-processes"
sourceTitle: "Don’t Let AI Slop Muck Up Your Company’s Processes"
---
# Structured vs. Unstructured Data

**What to know.** The difference between structured data (highly organized, easily searchable databases) and unstructured data (text, audio, video, open-ended responses).

**Why it matters.** Required to implement the authors' recommendations on [[concept-unstructured-data-provenance]] and on restricting inputs. Both [[action-track-provenance]] (apply structured-data-grade provenance rigor to unstructured data) and [[action-restrict-unstructured-inputs]] (convert free-form inputs into structured questionnaires) depend on grasping this distinction.