A taxonomy is a controlled vocabulary used to identify, describe, organize, and relate terms and anticipate user needs and behavior. It establishes common meanings and uses of terms through a nomenclature determined by subject experts. A taxonomy execution involves defining terms and relationships through tools like dictionaries, thesauruses, and metadata to drive business activities like identifying, describing, organizing, relating, anticipating needs, searching, filtering, navigating, and taking action. Examples of taxonomies include Yahoo's directory, online shopping catalogs and facets, and well-constructed websites' menus and hierarchies.

1. Overview –Taxonomies
February 3, 2012
(c) 2011 David Bromberg.
2/4/2012 1
May be reproduced or distributed with attribution.

2. What is a Taxonomy
 Taxonomy
 Controlled Vocabulary used to …
 Identify and Describe
 Organize and Relate
 Anticipate Need and Behavior (a value add)
 Controlled Vocabulary
 Nomenclature / Terminology
 Specific names and terms
 Establishes common meanings and uses
 Determined / agreed to by the “community”
 Applied to the business space / environment
(c) 2011 David Bromberg.
2/4/2012 2
May be reproduced or distributed with attribution.

3. Taxonomy Execution
• So it’s about language (terminology)
• Defining terms and relationships
• That drive business activities
Do What Do How Do Why
Dictionary
Identify Find
Thesaurus
Describe Search
Metadata
Organize Filter
Facets
Relate Navigate
Categorization
Anticipate Need Act!
Hierarchies
• Be as formal (informal) in taxonomy development
• As situation and need dictates
(c) 2011 David Bromberg.
2/4/2012 3
May be reproduced or distributed with attribution.

4. Taxonomy Examples
 Old Yahoo
 Biggest taxonomy ever compiled?
 Everything categorized for navigation and search
 Similar terms led to similar results (e.g., lawyers, attorneys)
 Any shopping site
 Catalogs are taxonomies
 Great attention to product naming
 Facets (metadata) for filtering products and options
 Any well constructed website
 Menus navigated to quickly get to desired destination
 Using semantic hierarchy (a.k.a., taxonomy)
 Always guiding the “information consumer” to “business action”
(c) 2011 David Bromberg.
2/4/2012 4
May be reproduced or distributed with attribution.