Organization Systems

Organization Systems “ our understanding of the world is largely determined by our ability to organize information” Do you agree? How do we organize information? Name some organization systems we commonly use….

“ our understanding of the world is largely determined by our ability to organize information”

Do you agree?

How do we organize information?

Name some organization systems we commonly use….

Organization Systems Challenges of organizing information: Growth of content Ambiguity Heterogeneity Differences in perspectives Internal politics

Challenges of organizing information:

Growth of content

Ambiguity

Heterogeneity

Differences in perspectives

Internal politics

Organizing web sites and intranets Information organization is closely related to: Navigation Labeling Indexing The best approach is to isolate the design of organization systems.

Information organization is closely related to:

Navigation

Labeling

Indexing

The best approach is to isolate the design of organization systems.

Organization Systems Are composed of: Organization Schemes (e.g. exact or ambiguous) Organization Structures (e.g. top-down or bottom-up)

Are composed of:

Organization Schemes (e.g. exact or ambiguous)

Organization Structures (e.g. top-down or bottom-up)

Exact Organization Schemes Divide information into well defined and mutually exclusive sections Alphabetical Chronological Geographical

Divide information into well defined and mutually exclusive sections

Alphabetical

Chronological

Geographical

Ambiguous Organization Systems Divide information into categories that defy exact definition. Topic Task Audience Metaphor Hybrid

Divide information into categories that defy exact definition.

Topic

Task

Audience

Metaphor

Hybrid

Organization Structures The structure of information defines the primary way in which users can navigate.

The structure of information defines the primary way in which users can navigate.

Organization Structures Hierarchies are Top-down approaches Plants Flowers Trees Annuals Perennials Conifers Deciduous

Hierarchies are Top-down approaches

Organization Structures Designing taxonomies: Hierarchical categories must mutually exclusive. (be aware of it, but not constrain by it) Balance between breath and depth. Hierarchies are good but is only one component of a cohesive organization system.

Designing taxonomies:

Hierarchical categories must mutually exclusive. (be aware of it, but not constrain by it)

Balance between breath and depth.

Hierarchies are good but is only one component of a cohesive organization system.

Organization Structures The Database Model: A bottom-up approach Metadata is the primary key that links Information Architecture with databases. A database is a collection of data arranged for optimizing storage and speed of search and retrieval. Most databases are build using the relational model . In this model data is stored within a set of relations or tables.

The Database Model: A bottom-up approach

Metadata is the primary key that links Information Architecture with databases.

A database is a collection of data arranged for optimizing storage and speed of search and retrieval.

Most databases are build using the relational model . In this model data is stored within a set of relations or tables.

Relational Database Example

Entity-Relationship Diagram AUTHOR au_id au_lname address city state AUTHOR_TITLE au_id title_id TITLE title_id title type price pub_id PUBLISHER pub_id pub_name city

Entity-Relationship Diagram

Organization Systems Information architects need to understand how metadata, controlled vocabulary, and database structures can be used to enable: Automatic generation of alphabetical indexes Dynamic presentation of associative “see also” links Fielded searching Advanced filtering and sorting of search results

Information architects need to understand how metadata, controlled vocabulary, and database structures can be used to enable:

Automatic generation of alphabetical indexes

Dynamic presentation of associative “see also” links

Fielded searching

Advanced filtering and sorting of search results

Organization Systems Hypertext: highly nonlinear way of structuring information. Hypertext chunks can be connected hierarchically or not hierarchically, or both. Provides flexibility but it can be a source of user confusion.

Hypertext: highly nonlinear way of structuring information.

Hypertext chunks can be connected hierarchically or not hierarchically, or both.

Provides flexibility but it can be a source of user confusion.

Organization Structures Hypertext is a highly nonlinear way of sorting information. It involves two main components: Items or chunks of information that will be linked Links between those chunks of information. Hypertext provides with great flexibility. However, it presents substantial potential for complexity and user confusion.

Hypertext is a highly nonlinear way of sorting information. It involves two main components:

Items or chunks of information that will be linked

Links between those chunks of information.

Hypertext provides with great flexibility. However, it presents substantial potential for complexity and user confusion.

Social Classification Examples: Flickr & Delicious Tagging, collaborative categorization, ethno-classification Users tag objects with one or more keywords User-centered, bottom up organizational structure

Examples: Flickr & Delicious

Tagging, collaborative categorization, ethno-classification

Users tag objects with one or more keywords

User-centered, bottom up organizational structure

What is social classification? User added metadata Shared resource (pictures, URLs) Collaborative, social software Social Feedback Loop Folksonomy, free-tagging Broad ( Many users tag one resource ) or narrow ( Few users tag one resource ) folksonomies

User added metadata

Shared resource (pictures, URLs)

Collaborative, social software

Social Feedback Loop

Folksonomy, free-tagging

Broad ( Many users tag one resource ) or narrow ( Few users tag one resource ) folksonomies

Folksonomies “ The old way creates a tree. The new, rakes leaves together.” ~ David Weinberger “ Folksonomies don’t support searching and other types of browsing nearly as well as tags from controlled vocabularies from professionals.” ~ Lou Rosenfeld

“ The old way creates a tree. The new, rakes leaves together.” ~ David Weinberger

“ Folksonomies don’t support searching and other types of browsing nearly as well as tags from controlled vocabularies from professionals.” ~ Lou Rosenfeld

Creating cohesive organization systems “ Suggesting organization is the first step in transforming data to information.” Consider exact and ambiguous organization systems Think about organization structures that influence how users can navigate Choose the right combination for your site

“ Suggesting organization is the first step in transforming data to information.”

Consider exact and ambiguous organization systems

Think about organization structures that influence how users can navigate

Choose the right combination for your site

Creating cohesive organization systems You need to consider a variety of exact and ambiguous organization schemes. Exact schemes are best for “known item” search Ambiguous are best for browsing and associative learning when users have vaguely defined information needs whenever possible use both types of schemes

You need to consider a variety of exact and ambiguous organization schemes.

Exact schemes are best for “known item” search

Ambiguous are best for browsing and associative learning when users have vaguely defined information needs

whenever possible use both types of schemes

Creating cohesive organization systems Large web sites will use all three types of organization structures: Top-level ------ Hierarchical Homogeneous groups of information------ Database model Less structured, more creative content items ------- Hypertext

Large web sites will use all three types of organization structures:

Top-level ------ Hierarchical

Homogeneous groups of information------ Database model

Less structured, more creative content items ------- Hypertext

Creating cohesive organization systems When thinking about organization structures: The top level will most likely be hierarchical Collections of structured and homogeneous information are excellent candidates for the database model. Less structured, more creative relationships between content can be handled through hypertext.

When thinking about organization structures:

The top level will most likely be hierarchical

Collections of structured and homogeneous information are excellent candidates for the database model.

Less structured, more creative relationships between content can be handled through hypertext.

Discussion Question Social Classification Folksonomies Issues with Folksonomies? Good or bad?

Social Classification

Folksonomies

Issues with Folksonomies?

Good or bad?