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.

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2. Intranet Information Architecture
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3. Agenda
o Defining Information Architect
o Simplicity
o Parent Categories
o Card Sorting
o Key Lessons
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5. www.PrescientDigital.com
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6. Highly effective intranets & websites
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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
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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.
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10. Clients include…
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11. Twitter hashtag
@intranet2 @tobyward
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12. Defining Information Architecture
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13. A definition
o The art and science of structuring, labeling and categorizing
content
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14. Information Architecture
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15. Information Architecture
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17. Most common complaint
o “I can’t find anything!”
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19. Elements of Information Architecture
Users
o Intended audience
Users Content
IA Content
o Subject matter
Context
Context
o Organizational, temporal,
political & cultural drivers
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20. Simplicity
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21. Tip: build a solid umbrella
o No more than 6 to 8 parent categories including sections for
About Us, Products, HR, and News
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22. Trick: Say no to catch-alls
o Avoid catch-all sections such as “Resources” or “Tools” that
become dumping grounds
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23. Parent Categories
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24. Most common parents
o About Us
o News
o HR
o Products & Services
o Forms & Tools
o Manuals & Policies
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28. Tip: Avoid sexy titles
o Avoid sexy titles “@MyWork” and “PeoplePlace”
o Dumping HR
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29. Tip: use simple vocabulary
o Good:
• About Us
o Bad:
• Company Central
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30. Tip: a navigation element is not a parent
o Search and Site Maps are navigation tools, not categories
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32. Trick: 6-8 parents
o Too few parents will create confusion; too many will create
frustration
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36. Card Sorting
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37. Purpose
o Guide the structure for the intranet to ensure that
information is organized in a way that is logical
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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
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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
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41. Tip: use simple vocabulary
o Good:
• About Us
o Bad:
• Company Central
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42. Trick: open sort
o Don’t provide users with the group titles; let them develop
their own groups and their own labels
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43. Key Lessons
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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
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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
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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
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47. October 10 & 11, New York City
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48. North America’s leading intranet conference
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50. www.PrescientDigital.com
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51. Q&A
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www.PrescientDigital.com
www. IntranetBlog.com
416.926.8800
@intranet2
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