Overview: I was speaking to a client recently about there SharePoint Intranet and I mentioned they should have a Information Architecture (IA). This should preferably be done by an Information architect but at a minimum the organisation can get the IA from project stakeholders. Below I list the 2 most commonly found IA representations approaches: Wireframes & Hierarchy/structure diagrams.
What is IA?
Wikipedia define IA as "Information architecture is the categorization of information into a coherent structure, preferably one that most people can understand quickly, if not inherently. It's usually hierarchical, but can have other structures".
For web based projects, the best 2 methods for defining IA are a hierarchy and a wireframe other useful tools are defining the taxonomy against the hierarchy IA diagram. I have seen various techniques to achieve this but keeping it simple as listed below and having a separate annotated version defining the term set or formal business taxonomy at each level is useful.
What is IA?
Wikipedia define IA as "Information architecture is the categorization of information into a coherent structure, preferably one that most people can understand quickly, if not inherently. It's usually hierarchical, but can have other structures".
For web based projects, the best 2 methods for defining IA are a hierarchy and a wireframe other useful tools are defining the taxonomy against the hierarchy IA diagram. I have seen various techniques to achieve this but keeping it simple as listed below and having a separate annotated version defining the term set or formal business taxonomy at each level is useful.
Hierarchy IA Diagram
WireFrame
Read More:
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1657659
Update 23 April 2011 - I have seen people looking for a starting point for an Intranet Menu structure, this is a generic option I propose for Intranets. Please feel free to suggest your own structure.
Update 23 April 2011 - I have seen people looking for a starting point for an Intranet Menu structure, this is a generic option I propose for Intranets. Please feel free to suggest your own structure.
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