Frameworks for IA

What is Information Architecture? The organization of information and content to enable the goals of the entity to be realized

Strategy

Human
Resources Structure
Management
Galbraith's Star
Model

Business
Rewards Processes
Systems and Lateral
Links

McKinsey’s 7-​S organizational architecture model

Super
Ordinate
Strategy Structure Systems Staff Style Skills Goals
Shared
Values

Simplicity Flexibility Reliability Economy Acceptability

IA Principles

Information Architecture Principles Considerations and guiding statements while performing an IA Review

Principles of Information Architecture The value for the user The value for the business

Content should be treated as a living, breathing

The Principle of Users will come to the website to search for Employee
thing. It has lifecycles, behaviors, and Known-​item seeking
Objects something desirable and known. productivity
attributes.

Users will come to the website looking for

The principle of Less is more. Keep the number of choices to a
Exploratory seeking inspiration. They’re looking for something Sales and reputation
choices minimum
desirable but not sure what exactly.

Show a preview of information that will help Users are in a process of an extensive research.
The principle of Acquiring new
users understand what kind of information is Exhaustive research They want to find as much information as
disclosure members
hidden if they dig deeper. possible.

The principle of Show examples of content when describing the A user needs a desired items again and are Reducing marketing
Re-​finding
exemplars content of the categories. trying to find it. costs

The principle of front Assume that at least 50% of users will use a Reputation and SEO
doors different entry point than the home page. ranking

The principle of Reducing the cost of

Offer users several different classification
multiple live help and support
schemes to browse the site’s content.
classifications documentation

The principle of Keep navigation simple and never mix different

focused navigation things.

The principle of Assume that the content on the website will

growth grow. Make sure the website is scalable.
Areas for Focus

Areas for Focus What should we be focusing on while performing IA

Manifesto
Vision Vision
Strategy Capabilities
MIssion

The culture provides the shape

Mentalities of the group, and affects the
Values
Perspective available interactions internal,
externally, and between.

Culture Surfacing
Information Flow

Organizational Units Teams Processes

Culture is the cumulation of the
Ethics core tenets common to the
Practices
Implementation group.

Tenets can be explicit or

implicit, and can be unknown.
Fit
People
Diversity The tenets affect the response
Principles and
Services Products of the group.
Guardrails

"Groups" can apply to the

organization, departments,
Origin Story
Narratives teams, clients, vendors,
Encapsulation
competitors, and community

Clients
Folklore Implicit viewpoints

understanding
consistency

Role of Governance, Strategy, and Tactical

predictable
Governance measurable
compliance

knowledge
Role Knowledge

north star efficiency

direction delivery
Strategy Tactical
alignment value
culture timely
inputs Role outputs

Policies requirements
Strategic Roadmaps Operational
Direction delivery
Change tracking
Risk
Positioning
Planning
Resourcing
Preparation
Analysis Flow

What process will we follow? What are the steps we will perform to do IA

Describe

For each Goals /

Section Objectives

RACI or
RAPID

Cadence

Document
Documents
Purpose

Document
Roles Security
RAPID

Document
Organization Structure
Taxonomy

Document
Release Cycle
Cadence