Intranet Information Architecture
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The document outlines the principles of information architecture for intranets, emphasizing the importance of user-centered design to enhance content accessibility. Key strategies include defining parent categories, minimizing complexity, and employing card sorting to organize content logically. The document also discusses Prescient Digital Media's expertise in intranet consulting and their iterative approach to developing effective information architectures.
Intranet Information Architecture
- 1. Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 1
- 2. Intranet Information Architecture Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 2
- 3. Agenda o Defining Information Architect o Simplicity o Parent Categories o Card Sorting o Key Lessons Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 3
- 4. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 4
- 5. www.PrescientDigital.com Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 5
- 6. Highly effective intranets & websites Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 6
- 7. Who is Prescient? • 11 years of rich history • World-class intranet experts • Strategic Internet & intranet consulting, planning & design services to many Fortune 500 & big brand clients, small and medium-size leaders • More intranet engagements & clients than any firm (class) • A well defined and proven methodology Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 7
- 8. Listen. Understand. Deliver. o We treat each client as unique; • We listen to their needs, goals and challenges; • Understand a client’s requirements and potential; and • Deliver highly effective and innovative website & intranet plans, designs & solutions. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 8
- 9. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 9
- 10. Clients include… Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 10
- 11. Twitter hashtag @intranet2 @tobyward Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 11
- 12. Defining Information Architecture Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 12
- 13. A definition o The art and science of structuring, labeling and categorizing content Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 13 13
- 14. Information Architecture Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 14 14
- 15. Information Architecture Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 15 15
- 16. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 16 16
- 17. Most common complaint o “I can’t find anything!” Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 17 17
- 18. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 18 18
- 19. Elements of Information Architecture Users o Intended audience Users Content IA Content o Subject matter Context Context o Organizational, temporal, political & cultural drivers Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 19 19 19
- 20. Simplicity Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 20
- 21. Tip: build a solid umbrella o No more than 6 to 8 parent categories including sections for About Us, Products, HR, and News Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 21 21
- 22. Trick: Say no to catch-alls o Avoid catch-all sections such as “Resources” or “Tools” that become dumping grounds Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 22 22
- 23. Parent Categories Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 23
- 24. Most common parents o About Us o News o HR o Products & Services o Forms & Tools o Manuals & Policies Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 24 24
- 25. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 25 25
- 26. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 26 26
- 27. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 27 27
- 28. Tip: Avoid sexy titles o Avoid sexy titles “@MyWork” and “PeoplePlace” o Dumping HR Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 28 28
- 29. Tip: use simple vocabulary o Good: • About Us o Bad: • Company Central Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 29 29
- 30. Tip: a navigation element is not a parent o Search and Site Maps are navigation tools, not categories Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 30 30
- 31. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 31 31
- 32. Trick: 6-8 parents o Too few parents will create confusion; too many will create frustration Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 32 32
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- 34. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 34 34
- 35. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 35 35
- 36. Card Sorting Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 36
- 37. Purpose o Guide the structure for the intranet to ensure that information is organized in a way that is logical Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 37 37 37
- 38. Process o 60 - 80 actual page titles from intranet on recipe cards o Physically group them on the table o Sort into intuitive groups – as many as logical to the user o Discuss where each should live and why o Label each group Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 38 38 38
- 39. User instructions • Card Sort – Take the provided cards and sort them into logical content buckets • Try to break down institutional silos • Ensure the information is organized in a way that is logical to site users • Think like a new user • Think outside the box • Be prepared to present your top 5-8 headings Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 39 39
- 40. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 40 40
- 41. Tip: use simple vocabulary o Good: • About Us o Bad: • Company Central Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 41 41
- 42. Trick: open sort o Don’t provide users with the group titles; let them develop their own groups and their own labels Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 42 42
- 43. Key Lessons Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 43
- 44. 10 Steps to building a solid IA 1. Audit existing content 2. Card sort 3. Draft an IA – max four levels deep 4. Focus Group test the IA 5. Refine the IA 6. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 as needed 7. Finalize IA 8. Map existing and new content to IA 9. Review as necessary 10. Develop content management plan & rules Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 44 44
- 45. Trick: own the first three levels Home Employee About Us How Do I Forms Policies Events Central Corporate New Schedule Alphabetical Alphabetical Calendar Objectives Employees Meetings List List Benefits & Purchase By Service By Service Quarterly Executives Compensation Supplies Area Area Meetings Organizational Health & Start a Project By Task By Task Social Events Criteria Safety Career Plan a Trip Presentations Social Committee Employee …let owners do lower levels Newsletter Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 45 45
- 46. Trap: copying others o IBM’s or another intranet’s IA will not work o Your employees will tell you what your IA should be Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 46 46
- 47. October 10 & 11, New York City Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 47 47
- 48. North America’s leading intranet conference Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 48 48
- 49. Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 49 49
- 50. www.PrescientDigital.com Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 50 50
- 51. Q&A Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 51
- 52. 52 www.PrescientDigital.com www. IntranetBlog.com 416.926.8800 @intranet2 Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 52
- 53. Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 53