Intranet Information Architecture

Agendao Defining Information Architecto Simplicityo Parent Categorieso Card Sortingo Key Lessons Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 3

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

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

A definitiono 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

Most common complainto “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

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

Tip: build a solid umbrellao 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

Trick: Say no to catch-allso 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

Most common parentso About Uso Newso HRo Products & Serviceso Forms & Toolso Manuals & Policies Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 24 24

Tip: Avoid sexy titleso 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

Tip: use simple vocabularyo Good: • About Uso Bad: • Company Central Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 29 29

Tip: a navigation element is not a parento 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

Trick: 6-8 parentso 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

Purposeo 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

Processo 60 - 80 actual page titles from intranet on recipe cardso Physically group them on the tableo Sort into intuitive groups – as many as logical to the usero Discuss where each should live and whyo Label each group Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 38 38 38

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

Tip: use simple vocabularyo Good: • About Uso Bad: • Company Central Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution Strictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Not For Distribution 41 41

Trick: open sorto 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

10 Steps to building a solid IA1. Audit existing content2. Card sort3. Draft an IA – max four levels deep4. Focus Group test the IA5. Refine the IA6. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 as needed7. Finalize IA8. Map existing and new content to IA9. Review as necessary10. 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

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

Trap: copying otherso IBM’s or another intranet’s IA will not worko 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

52www.PrescientDigital.comwww. IntranetBlog.com416.926.8800@intranet2 Strictly Confidential © 2012 Prescient DigitalStrictly Confidential © 2009 Prescient Digital Media Media Not For Distribution Not For Distribution 52

Intranet Information Architecture

by Prescient Digital Media on Oct 01, 2012

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