Download - Information Architecture Deliverables

Dushyant Kanungo 10036175

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE DELIVERABLES

STRATEGY & SELLING IA

The term, coined by Richard Saul Wurman in 1976, is defined by the Information Architecture Institute as:

“The structural design of shared information environments.”

“The art and science of organizing and labelling web sites, intranets, online communities and software to support usability and findability.”

“An emerging community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.”

The Information Architecture Institute: What is IA? – [www] http://iainstitute.org/en/learn/resources/what_is_ia.php - 24/02/2012

So what is IA?

• The cost of finding the information• The cost of NOT finding the information• The cost of construction• The cost of maintenance• The cost of training• The value of brand

Why IA matters?

Peter Morville & Louise Rosenfeild [2002] Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 2nd Edition , O’Reilly

$how me the money!

“Low intranet usability (due to poor Information Architecture) costs the world economy $100 billion per year in

lost employee productivity.”

-Jakob Nielson

Jakob Neilson: Foreword to Rosenfeld and Morville's Book on Information Architecture (2nd edition) - [www] http://www.useit.com/books/rosenfeldmorvilleforeword2.html -

24/02/2012

WOW! So what is the problem?

• Still a emerging domain• Ignorance on executive level in organisations• Grey areas in domain (Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Usability)• Global recession and cost cutting

Making The Case || Selling The Case

The Curious Case of Information Architecture

• The benefits of a complete IA cannot be quantified• Broad & shallow hierarchy v/s narrow & deep hierarchy

• The ROI case may only be valid for large industrial scale intranet

• Factors which influence information seeking behaviour

• The benefits of many IA components can’t ever be quantified• How detailed a search component should be?

• How to measure the number of people NOT being able to find information?

• Most claims for quantified IA benefits can’t be validated• IA is not a technical problem. It is a people problem.

• Varying people perspective, prejudice, politics and skills Measuring Information Architecture Quality: Panel Presentations - [www]

http://instone.org/files/MeasureIA-Panel.pdf - 24/02/2012

Selling Information Architecture - 1

• Show the problem (And how you can help fix it)• Make clear case for executives – cut to the chase

• Research the background information prepare a list of compelling reasons

• Benefit the bottom line• The ROI case – Investment Returns with time frame & estimated

losses in absence

• The productivity case

• Don’t promise the silver bullet• Present cases of dependencies, risk management and mitigating

case scenariosSamantha Starmer [2006], Selling information architecture: Getting executives to say

“yes”- [www] http://bit.ly/zesdjG - 24/02/2012,

- Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology


• Play the politics• Know the organisation – culture and decision making process

• Talk to the right people at right time and in right order

• Listen, listen & listen

• Pay attention to style• Facts based raw data or verbatim quotes from users?

• Think about who you need to sell in each pitch and prepare accordingly

Samantha Starmer [2006], Selling information architecture: Getting executives to say “yes”

- [www] http://bit.ly/zesdjG - 24/02/2012, - Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology

• User sensitivity “Boot Camp” sessions• Site evaluation• Strategy sessions• Competitive & Comparative analysis• Follow the tool sales people • Be aggressive and be early

• Plan is your best friend• Education is the half battle• Get off your high horse



• The deliverables for sales?• The usual suspect:• A contract outlining Key areas of research

• Phase wise high level breakup of the plan

Sold!


• The deliverables for sales?• The usual suspect:• A contract outlining Key areas of research

• Phase wise high level breakup of the plan

Sold!


Research Strategy Design Implementation Administration

Research

• Context• Business goals, funding, politics, culture, technology, human

resources

• Content• Document/data types, content objects, metadata, volume, existing

structure

• Users• Audience, tasks, needs, information seeking behaviour, experience,

vocabularies

IA

Content Context

Users

A Research Framework


What is IA Strategy?

• IA strategy provides high level recommendations regarding:

• Information Architecture Administration

• Technology Integration

• Top-Down or Bottom-Up Emphasis

• Organisation & Labelling System (Top-Down)

• Document Type Identification (Bottom-Up)

• Metadata Field Definitions

• Navigation System Design


Making the IA Strategy - 1

Think Articulate Communicate Test

• Convert research data into creative ideas• Diagrams, metaphors, stories, scenarios, blueprints,

wireframes• Present, react, brainstorm• Closed card sorts, prototypes

Local || Local || Local


Making the IA Strategy - 2

• Metaphor exploration• Organisational, functional, visual metaphors

• Scenarios• Investigative & serendipity modes

• Case Studies & Stories• Tailored for audience’s vocabulary

• Conceptual Diagrams• Centralisation of core issues

• BluePrints & Wireframes• Relationships between content components

• Architect’s tools for transformation


IA Strategy Deliverables

• IA Strategy Report• Detailed strategy, direction & scope• Executive summery, audience, mission and vision for the site

• Architectural strategy, approach & lessons learned

• Content management – rules, roles, resources, templates, metadata, thesaurus

• IA Strategy Presentation• High-level strategy, direction & scope

• Project Plan for Design• Teams, deliverables, schedule & budget


Thank You!• Q&A

References:• Peter Morville & Louise Rosenfeild [2002] Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 2nd Edition ,

O’Reilly

• Samantha Starmer [2006], Selling information architecture: Getting executives to say “yes” [www] http://bit.ly/zesdjG - 24/02/2012, Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology

• Measuring Information Architecture Quality: Panel Presentations - [www] http://instone.org/files/MeasureIA-Panel.pdf - 24/02/2012

• Jakob Neilson: Foreword to Rosenfeld and Morville's Book on Information Architecture (2nd edition) - [www] http://www.useit.com/books/rosenfeldmorvilleforeword2.html - 24/02/2012

• The Information Architecture Institute: What is IA? – [www] http://iainstitute.org/en/learn/resources/what_is_ia.php - 24/02/2012

Presentation prepared by Dushyant Kanungo, Student ID: 10036175, for the module ‘UFCEKF-20-2 Information Architecture’ at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.

[email protected] | http://www.dushyantkanungo.com

Download - Information Architecture Deliverables

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