is architecture full

(1)

Information System

Architecture

I ndra

(2)

What is

IS

Architecture

I nform at ion archit ect ure is t he t erm used t o I nform at ion archit ect ure is t he t erm used t o

describe t he st ruct ure of a syst em ,

describe t he st ruct ure of a syst em , i.ei.e t he way t he way inform at ion is grouped, t he navigat ion

inform at ion is grouped, t he navigat ion

m et hods and t erm inology used wit hin t he m et hods and t erm inology used wit hin t he

syst em . syst em .

An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure enables An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure enables

people t o st ep logically t hrough a syst em people t o st ep logically t hrough a syst em

(3)

What is

IS

Architecture

Most people only not ice inform at ion Most people only not ice inform at ion

archit ect ure w hen it is poor and st ops t hem archit ect ure w hen it is poor and st ops t hem

from finding t he inform at ion t hey require. from finding t he inform at ion t hey require.

I nform at ion archit ect ure is m ost com m only I nform at ion archit ect ure is m ost com m only

associat ed w it h websit es and int ranet s, but it associat ed w it h websit es and int ranet s, but it can be used in t he cont ext of any inform at ion can be used in t he cont ext of any inform at ion

(4)

The evolution of information

architecture

The t erm

The t erm ““inform at ion archit ect ureinform at ion archit ect ure”” was first was first coined by Richard Saul

coined by Richard Saul Wurm anWurm an in 1975. in 1975. Wurm an

Wurm an w as t rained as an archit ect , but w as t rained as an archit ect , but

becam e int erest ed in t he w ay inform at ion is becam e int erest ed in t he w ay inform at ion is

gat hered,

gat hered, organisedorganised and present ed t o convey and present ed t o convey m eaning.

m eaning. Wurm an'sWurm an's init ial definit ion of init ial definit ion of inform at ion archit ect ure w as

(5)

The evolution of information

architecture

The t erm was largely dorm ant unt il in 1996 it The t erm was largely dorm ant unt il in 1996 it

w as seized upon by a couple of library w as seized upon by a couple of library

scient ist s, Lou Rosenfeld and Pet er

scient ist s, Lou Rosenfeld and Pet er MorvilleMorville. . They used t he t erm t o define t he work t hey They used t he t erm t o define t he work t hey

w ere doing st ruct uring large

w ere doing st ruct uring large--scale websit es scale websit es and int ranet s.

(6)

The evolution of information

architecture

I n I nform at ion Archit ect ure for t he World Wide I n I nform at ion Archit ect ure for t he World Wide

Web: Designing Large

Web: Designing Large--Scale Web Sit esScale Web Sit es t hey t hey define inform at ion archit ect ure as:

define inform at ion archit ect ure as:

1.

1.The com binat ion of The com binat ion of organisat ionorganisat ion, , labellinglabelling, ,

and navigat ion schem es w it hin an inform at ion and navigat ion schem es w it hin an inform at ion

syst em . syst em .

2.

2.The st ruct ural design of an inform at ion space The st ruct ural design of an inform at ion space

(7)

The evolution of information

architecture

3.

3.The art and science of st ruct uring and The art and science of st ruct uring and

classifying w eb sit es and int ranet s t o help classifying w eb sit es and int ranet s t o help

people find and m anage inform at ion. people find and m anage inform at ion.

4.

4.An em erging discipline and com m unit y of An em erging discipline and com m unit y of

pract ice focused on bringing principles of pract ice focused on bringing principles of

design and archit ect ure t o t he digit al design and archit ect ure t o t he digit al

(8)

The evolution of information

architecture

Today

Today Wurm an'sWurm an's influence on inform at ion influence on inform at ion

archit ect ure is fairly m inim al, but m any of t he archit ect ure is fairly m inim al, but m any of t he

m et aphors used t o describe t he discipline echo m et aphors used t o describe t he discipline echo

t he w ork done by archit ect s. For exam ple, t he w ork done by archit ect s. For exam ple,

inform at ion archit ect ure is described as t he inform at ion archit ect ure is described as t he

blueprint developers and designers use t o build blueprint developers and designers use t o build

(9)

Common problems

The m ost com m on problem w it h inform at ion The m ost com m on problem w it h inform at ion

archit ect ures is t hat t hey sim ply m im ic a archit ect ures is t hat t hey sim ply m im ic a

com pany

com pany’’s s organisat ionalorganisat ional st ruct ure.st ruct ure.

Alt hough t his can oft en appear logical and an Alt hough t his can oft en appear logical and an

easy solut ion for t hose involved in defining easy solut ion for t hose involved in defining

t he archit ect ure, people using syst em s ( even t he archit ect ure, people using syst em s ( even

int ranet s) oft en don

int ranet s) oft en don’’t know or t hink in t erm s t know or t hink in t erm s of

of organisat ionalorganisat ional st ruct ure w hen t rying t o find st ruct ure w hen t rying t o find inform at ion.

(10)

How to create an effective

Information Architecture

An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure com es An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure com es from underst anding business obj ect ives and from underst anding business obj ect ives and

const raint s, t he cont ent , and t he requirem ent s const raint s, t he cont ent , and t he requirem ent s

of t he people t hat will use t he sit e. of t he people t hat will use t he sit e.

I nform at ion archit ect ure is oft en described I nform at ion archit ect ure is oft en described

(11)

How to create an effective

Information Architecture

Business / Context

(12)

Business Context

Underst anding an

Underst anding an organisat ionsorganisat ions’’ business business obj ect ives, polit ics, cult ure, t echnology, obj ect ives, polit ics, cult ure, t echnology,

resources and const raint s is essent ial before resources and const raint s is essent ial before

considering developm ent of t he inform at ion considering developm ent of t he inform at ion

archit ect ure. archit ect ure.

Techniques for underst anding cont ext Techniques for underst anding cont ext

(13)

Business Context

Techniques for underst anding cont ext include: Techniques for underst anding cont ext include:

•

• Reading exist ing docum ent at ion Mission Reading exist ing docum ent at ion Mission st at em ent s, organizat ion chart s, previous st at em ent s, organizat ion chart s, previous

research and vision docum ent s are a quick research and vision docum ent s are a quick w ay of building up an underst anding of t he w ay of building up an underst anding of t he

cont ext in which t he syst em m ust work. cont ext in which t he syst em m ust work. •

• St akeholder int erviews Speaking t o St akeholder int erviews Speaking t o

st akeholders provides valuable insight int o st akeholders provides valuable insight int o

business cont ext and can uneart h previously business cont ext and can uneart h previously

(14)

Content

The m ost effect ive m et hod for underst anding The m ost effect ive m et hod for underst anding

t he quant it y and qualit y of cont ent ( i.e. t he quant it y and qualit y of cont ent ( i.e.

funct ionalit y and inform at ion) proposed for a funct ionalit y and inform at ion) proposed for a

syst em is t o conduct a cont ent invent ory. syst em is t o conduct a cont ent invent ory.

Cont ent invent ories ident ify all of t he proposed Cont ent invent ories ident ify all of t he proposed

cont ent for a syst em , w here t he cont ent cont ent for a syst em , w here t he cont ent

current ly resides, w ho ow ns it and any exist ing current ly resides, w ho ow ns it and any exist ing

(15)

Users

m at t er. Techniques for get t ing users involved m at t er. Techniques for get t ing users involved in t he creat ion of an inform at ion archit ect ure in t he creat ion of an inform at ion archit ect ure

include: include:

•

• Card sort ingCard sort ing

Card sort ing involves represent at ive users Card sort ing involves represent at ive users

sort ing a series of cards, each

sort ing a series of cards, each labelledlabelled wit h a wit h a piece of cont ent or funct ionalit y, int o groups piece of cont ent or funct ionalit y, int o groups

t hat m ake sense t o t hem . Card sort ing t hat m ake sense t o t hem . Card sort ing

(16)

Users

An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure m ust reflect t he An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure m ust reflect t he w ay people t hink about t he subj ect m at t er. Techniques w ay people t hink about t he subj ect m at t er. Techniques for get t ing users involved in t he creat ion of an

for get t ing users involved in t he creat ion of an inform at ion archit ect ure include:

inform at ion archit ect ure include:

Card

Card--based classificat ion evaluat ion is a t echnique for based classificat ion evaluat ion is a t echnique for t est ing an inform at ion archit ect ure before it has been t est ing an inform at ion archit ect ure before it has been im plem ent ed.

im plem ent ed.

(17)

Styles of

Information Architecture

There are t w o m ain approaches t o defining There are t w o m ain approaches t o defining

an inform at ion archit ect ure. These are: an inform at ion archit ect ure. These are:

•

• TopTop--dow n inform at ion archit ect ure This dow n inform at ion archit ect ure This involves developing a broad underst anding involves developing a broad underst anding of t he business st rat egies and user needs, of t he business st rat egies and user needs,

before defining t he high level st ruct ure of before defining t he high level st ruct ure of sit e, and finally t he det ailed relat ionships sit e, and finally t he det ailed relat ionships

(18)

Styles of

Information Architecture

There are t w o m ain approaches t o defining There are t w o m ain approaches t o defining an inform at ion archit ect ure. These are:

an inform at ion archit ect ure. These are:

•

• Bot t omBot t om--up inform at ion archit ect ureup inform at ion archit ect ure

This involves underst anding t he det ailed relat ionships This involves underst anding t he det ailed relat ionships bet w een cont ent , creat ing w alkt hroughs ( or

bet w een cont ent , creat ing w alkt hroughs ( or

(19)

Styles of

(20)

Creating an effective IA in 9 steps

The follow ing st eps define a process for creat ing an The follow ing st eps define a process for creat ing an effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure.

effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure.

1. Underst and t he business/ cont ext ual requirem ent s 1. Underst and t he business/ cont ext ual requirem ent s and t he proposed cont ent for t he syst em . Read all and t he proposed cont ent for t he syst em . Read all exist ing docum ent at ion, int erview st akeholders and exist ing docum ent at ion, int erview st akeholders and conduct a cont ent invent ory.

conduct a cont ent invent ory.

2. Conduct cards sort ing exercises w it h a num ber of 2. Conduct cards sort ing exercises w it h a num ber of represent at ive users.

represent at ive users.

(21)

Creating an effective IA in 9 steps

5. Evaluat e t he draft inform at ion archit ect ure using 5. Evaluat e t he draft inform at ion archit ect ure using t he card

t he card--based classificat ion evaluat ion t echnique. based classificat ion evaluat ion t echnique. Don

Don’’t expect t o get t he inform at ion archit ect ure right t expect t o get t he inform at ion archit ect ure right first t im e. Capt uring t he right t erm inology and

first t im e. Capt uring t he right t erm inology and hierarchy m ay t ake several it erat ions.

hierarchy m ay t ake several it erat ions.

6. Docum ent t he inform at ion archit ect ure in a sit e 6. Docum ent t he inform at ion archit ect ure in a sit e m ap. This is not t he final sit e m ap, t he sit e m ap w ill m ap. This is not t he final sit e m ap, t he sit e m ap w ill only be finalized aft er page layout s have been defined. only be finalized aft er page layout s have been defined.

(22)

Creating an effective IA in 9 steps

8. Walk ot her m em bers of t he proj ect t eam t hrough 8. Walk ot her m em bers of t he proj ect t eam t hrough t he st oryboards and leave t hem in shared w orkspaces t he st oryboards and leave t hem in shared w orkspaces for com m ent s.

for com m ent s.

I f possible w it hin t he const raint s of t he proj ect , it is I f possible w it hin t he const raint s of t he proj ect , it is good t o conduct t ask

good t o conduct t ask--based usabilit y t est s on paper based usabilit y t est s on paper prot ot ypes as it provides valuable feedback w it hout prot ot ypes as it provides valuable feedback w it hout going t o t he expense of creat ing higher qualit y

going t o t he expense of creat ing higher qualit y designs.

designs.

9. Creat e det ailed page layout s t o support key user 9. Creat e det ailed page layout s t o support key user

(23)

Products from the IA process

Various m et hods are used t o capt ure and Various m et hods are used t o capt ure and

define an inform at ion archit ect ure. Som e of define an inform at ion archit ect ure. Som e of

t he m ost com m on m et hods are: t he m ost com m on m et hods are:

1.

1.Sit e m apsSit e m aps 2.

2.Annot at ed page layout sAnnot at ed page layout s 3.

3.Cont ent m at ricesCont ent m at rices 4.

4.Page t em plat esPage t em plat es

There are also a num ber of ot her possible by There are also a num ber of ot her possible by-

-product s from t he process. Such as: product s from t he process. Such as:

5.

(24)

Products from the IA process

1 . Sit e m a ps 1 . Sit e m a ps

Sit e m aps are perhaps t he m ost widely Sit e m aps are perhaps t he m ost widely

know n and underst ood deliverable from t he know n and underst ood deliverable from t he

process of defining an inform at ion process of defining an inform at ion

archit ect ure. archit ect ure.

A sit e m ap is a high level diagram show ing A sit e m ap is a high level diagram show ing

t he hierarchy of a syst em . Sit e m aps reflect t he hierarchy of a syst em . Sit e m aps reflect

t he inform at ion st ruct ure, but are not t he inform at ion st ruct ure, but are not

(25)

Products from the IA process

2 . An n ot a t e d pa ge la you t s 2 . An n ot a t e d pa ge la you t s

Page layout s define page level navigat ion, Page layout s define page level navigat ion,

cont ent t ypes and funct ional elem ent s. cont ent t ypes and funct ional elem ent s.

Annot at ions are used t o provide guidance Annot at ions are used t o provide guidance

for t he visual designers and developers w ho for t he visual designers and developers w ho

will use t he page layout s t o build t he sit e. will use t he page layout s t o build t he sit e.

Page layout s are alt ernat ively know n as Page layout s are alt ernat ively know n as

wirefram es

(26)

Products from the IA process

3 . Con t e n t m a t r ix 3 . Con t e n t m a t r ix

A cont ent m at rix list s each page in t he A cont ent m at rix list s each page in t he

syst em and ident ifies t he cont ent t hat will syst em and ident ifies t he cont ent t hat will

(27)

Products from the IA process

4 . Pa ge t e m pla t e s 4 . Pa ge t e m pla t e s

Page t em plat es m ay be required w hen Page t em plat es m ay be required when

defining large

defining large--scale w ebsit es and int ranet s. scale w ebsit es and int ranet s. Page t em plat es define t he layout of com m on Page t em plat es define t he layout of com m on

page elem ent s, such as global navigat ion, page elem ent s, such as global navigat ion,

cont ent and local navigat ion. Page cont ent and local navigat ion. Page

t em plat es are com m only used w hen t em plat es are com m only used w hen

(28)

Products from the IA process

5 . Pr ot ot ype s 5 . Pr ot ot ype s

Prot ot ypes are m odels of t he syst em . Prot ot ypes are m odels of t he syst em .

Prot ot ypes can be as sim ple as paper

Prot ot ypes can be as sim ple as paper--based based sket ches, or as com plex as fully int eract ive sket ches, or as com plex as fully int eract ive

syst em s. Research show s t hat paper

syst em s. Research show s t hat paper--based based prot ot ypes are j ust as effect ive for

prot ot ypes are j ust as effect ive for ident ifying issues as fully int eract ive ident ifying issues as fully int eract ive

syst em s. syst em s.

Prot ot ypes are oft en developed t o bring t he Prot ot ypes are oft en developed t o bring t he

(29)

Products from the IA process

6 . St or yboa r ds 6 . St or yboa r ds

St oryboards are anot her t echnique for St oryboards are anot her t echnique for

bringing t he inform at ion archit ect ure t o life bringing t he inform at ion archit ect ure t o life

w it hout building it . St oryboards are sket ches w it hout building it . St oryboards are sket ches

show ing how a user w ould int eract w it h a show ing how a user w ould int eract w it h a

syst em t o com plet e a com m on t ask. syst em t o com plet e a com m on t ask.

St oryboards enable ot her m em bers of t he St oryboards enable ot her m em bers of t he

proj ect t eam t o underst and t he proposed proj ect t eam t o underst and t he proposed

inform at ion archit ect ure before t he syst em is inform at ion archit ect ure before t he syst em is

(30)

IA and usability

Som e people find t he relat ionship and dist inct ion Som e people find t he relat ionship and dist inct ion bet w een inform at ion archit ect ure and usabilit y bet w een inform at ion archit ect ure and usabilit y

unclear. I nform at ion archit ect ure is not t he sam e as unclear. I nform at ion archit ect ure is not t he sam e as usabilit y, but t he t w o are closely relat ed. Usabilit y usabilit y, but t he t w o are closely relat ed. Usabilit y encom passes t w o relat ed concept s:

encom passes t w o relat ed concept s:

1. Usabilit y is an at t ribut e of t he qualit y of a syst em : 1. Usabilit y is an at t ribut e of t he qualit y of a syst em : “

“w e need t o creat e a usable int ranetw e need t o creat e a usable int ranet””

2. Usabilit y is a process or set of t echniques used 2. Usabilit y is a process or set of t echniques used during a design and developm ent proj ect :

during a design and developm ent proj ect : ““w e need w e need t o include usabilit y act ivit ies in t his proj ect

(31)

IA and usability

1.

1. I A as an at t ribut e of t he qualit y of a syst emI A as an at t ribut e of t he qualit y of a syst em

An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure is one An effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure is one

of a num ber of at t ribut es of a usable syst em . of a num ber of at t ribut es of a usable syst em .

Ot her fact ors involving t he usabilit y of a Ot her fact ors involving t he usabilit y of a

syst em , include: syst em , include:

•

• visual designvisual design •

• int eract ion designint eract ion design •

• funct ionalit yfunct ionalit y •

(32)

IA and usability

2.

2. I A as a process during Design & DevelopI A as a process during Design & Develop

The process for creat ing an effect ive The process for creat ing an effect ive

inform at ion archit ect ure is a sub

inform at ion archit ect ure is a sub--set of t he set of t he usabilit y act ivit ies involved in a proj ect .

usabilit y act ivit ies involved in a proj ect .

Alt hough weight ed t o t he beginning of t he Alt hough weight ed t o t he beginning of t he proj ect , usabilit y act ivit ies should cont inue proj ect , usabilit y act ivit ies should cont inue

(33)

Who creates the IA?

I ncreasingly com panies are realizing t he im port ance I ncreasingly com panies are realizing t he im port ance of inform at ion archit ect ure and are em ploying

of inform at ion archit ect ure and are em ploying specialist

specialist ‘‘inform at ion archit ect sinform at ion archit ect s’’ t o perform t his t o perform t his role.

role.

But inform at ion archit ect ure is also defined by: But inform at ion archit ect ure is also defined by: •

• int ranet designers and m anagersint ranet designers and m anagers •

• w ebsit e designers and m anagersw ebsit e designers and m anagers •

• visual designersvisual designers •

• ot her people designing inform at ion syst em sot her people designing inform at ion syst em s •

• program m ersprogram m ers •

(34)

Conclusion

Developing an effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure is Developing an effect ive inform at ion archit ect ure is an essent ial st ep in t he developm ent of all com put er an essent ial st ep in t he developm ent of all com put er syst em s.

syst em s.

Effect ive inform at ion archit ect ures enable people t o Effect ive inform at ion archit ect ures enable people t o quickly, easily and int uit ively find cont ent . This

quickly, easily and int uit ively find cont ent . This

avoids frust rat ion and increases t he chance t hat t he avoids frust rat ion and increases t he chance t hat t he user w ill ret urn t o t he syst em t he next t im e t hey

(35)