What is a Taxonomy?

• Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification and

categorization.
• A taxonomy is a classification scheme — often hierarchical — of
information components (for example, terms, concepts, graphics,
sounds) and their interrelationships.
• Taxonomies, or taxonomic schemes, are composed of taxonomic units
known as taxa (singular taxon), or kinds of things that are arranged
frequently in a hierarchical structure.
– Typically, they are related by subtype-supertype relationships, also called
parent-child relationships.
– In such a subtype-supertype relationship the subtype kind of thing has by
definition the same constraints as the supertype kind of thing plus one or
more additional constraints.
– For example, car is a subtype of vehicle. So, any car is also a vehicle, but
not every vehicle is a car. Therefore, a thing needs to satisfy more
constraints to be a car than to be a vehicle.
• "For a large enterprise to share
information across diverse product lines
and functions, a common language or
taxonomy is required to classify the
information. The best way to develop the
common taxonomy is to look at the
hierarchies currently in use."
• - David Lamar Smith, Halliburton Global
Technical Services Chief
 Taxonomy
• A standard taxonomy facilitates information exchange among a diverse group.
• If a standard taxonomy that meets an organization’s needs perfectly does not
exist, then a standard taxonomy can be customized to fit an organization’s
needs.
• It may be simply a procedure to translate the taxonomy into a standard’s terms.
– For example, if the term floriculture is not suitable, substitute “growing ornamental
flowers” but maintain the unique identifier.
– ITStreamlined can help an organization create the perfect standard for its purposes.
• No organization is an island, especially in this day where mergers are
happening in such multitudes. A standard taxonomy can integrate the merged
information more smoothly.
• Taxonomies support three information management requirements by:
• Enabling end users to discover and access information
• Enabling content managers to organize their information assets
• Enabling taxonomy designers to fulfill end users' and content managers' needs
 The rules of standard taxonomy
• The rules of standard taxonomy:
– order by relationships,
– a place for everything, and
– flexibility, apply to many situations.
• Even without creating the taxonomy, organizing material into
classifications at whatever level increases awareness of the big picture
and how each part fits.
• Taxonomy is a good method of approaching any chaotic information;
especially as these days, little information is going to stay in individual
files. Most information is being distributed to everybody and may well
get lost.
 Possible uses for a taxonomy in
Asset and Service Management
• Asset Management Portfolio - Models
• Vendor Catalogs
• Service Knowledge Management System
• Service Configuration Item Portfolio – CMDB
– The configuration management function requires a storage area where information
on configuration items placed under its control can be securely recorded in a
‘configuration management database’ or CMDB. The objective of the CMDB is to
provide a single, LOGICAL view of required service infrastructure and individual
CI information.
– The list of items in the CMDB is often a subset of the items in the Asset
Management Portfolio. The CMDB particularly focuses on the operational
relationships among the Configuration Items.
• Service Portfolio Master
– `A ‘service portfolio’ is a collection of services managed as an investment by a
service provider organization to maximizes the total beneficial value derived from
its use of resources.
• Service Catalog Master
CODING AND CLASSIFICATION

USING THE UNSPSC

United Nations Standard Products

and Services Code
 AGENDA
• What is Coding and Classification
• Why use the UNSPSC Coding and
Classification Structure
• UNSPSC Design
• Advantages
 What is Coding and Classification
It is about using a number or set of alphanumeric
characters to:
• Identify a specific product or service.
• Group similar things together.

• Coding for identification.

• Classification for analysis.
 UNSPSC - Design
The UNSPSC is a hierarchical classification,
having five levels. Each level contains two
numerical values and text description.

Level 1 Segment The logical aggregation of families for

analytical purposes.
Level 2 Family A commonly recognized group of
inter-related commodity categories.
Level 3 Class A group of commodities having a
common group of functions.
Level 4 Commodity A group of products or services.
Who uses UNSPSC?
 UNSPSC - Design
Product Service

Level 1 Segment Paper Material and Building & Construction &

Products Maintenance Services

Level 2 Family Paper Products Building Construction & Support

& Maintenance & Repair
Services
Level 3 Class Printing and Electrical Services
Writing Paper

Level 4 Commodity Printer or Copier Electric power systems

Paper installation or service
 Why Use UNSPSC Coding and
Classification Structure
Three primary functions:
• Product Awareness
A common definition for products and services across the
whole organisation.
• Resource Discovery
Identification of relevant suppliers of a specific product or
service.
• Expenditure Analysis
An analysis can be made of spend levels.
 Advantages
• Enables all suppliers of a given category to be found.
• Facilitates expenditure analysis to a standard
taxonomy.
• Control over and compliance to spending limits of
authorized commodities by individuals and
departments.
• UNSPSC is extensible to the degree needed for your
organization.
• UNSPSC is a possible choice for the “bones” of your
organization’s taxonomy for goods and services.
 Level 1
Segment

43210000
Level 2 Computer
Equipment and
Family Accessories

Level 3 43211500
Computers
Class

Level 4 43211501
43211502 43211503
High end Notebook
Computer servers
Commodity computer servers computers

Level 5
You Define It
43000000 Information Technology Broadcasting and Telecommunications
43210000 Computer Equipment and Accessories

43211500 Computers
43211501 Computer servers
Blade
Mini tower
Rack-mountable
Tower
43211502 High end computer servers
43211503 Notebook computers
Netbook
<14"
14"
15"
16"
17"

43211504 Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers

43211505 Point of sale POS terminal
43211506 Thin client computers
43211507 Desktop computers
All-in-One
Compact desktop

Convertible mini tower

Desktop slimline
Micro tower
Mini PC
Mini tower
Miniature
Small form factor
Tiny desktop
Tower

Ultra small form factor

43211508 Personal computers
43211509 Tablet computers

43211510 Mainframe console or dumb terminals

43211511 Wearable computing devices
43211512 Mainframe computers

43211513 Ultra mobile personal computer

43211514 Computer kiosk
43211515 Computer workstation