Template: Information Architecture Plan

Supporting. Information Architecture/Classification Standard (WEB/STD/08)

Version: 2.0

Release Date: 30 November 2007

Information Architecture Plan Template

(Please read the "Developing and Managing an Information Architecture" guideline before completing this document).

1. Web site details

• Contact details
  • web site name or reference
  • URLs
  • Launch Date
  • Contact person
  • Department or agency
  • Branch
  • Phone number
  • Email

2. Scope and Context

Defining the scope and context of the web site ensures clear identification of the web site’s objectives. It places the web site in context with similar and or aligned services within the department or agency, with other web sites across Victorian Government and with other best practice web sites . This helps to streamline the discovery experience for users, prevents duplication of information and effort and ensures that the web site information architecture is informed by current industry best practice.

• Objectives and measurement
• Types
  • Department or agency web site
  • Program or issue specific web site
  • Thematic or portal
  • Other
• Analysis of aligned and similar services
  • Does the department or agency provide information or services of a similar or aligned nature?
  • What aligned or similar services are provided by other Victorian government departments?
  • what aligned or similar services are provided by non-government or private sectors?

3. Audience needs and interactions

Understanding the needs and requirements of users is fundamental to the design of an effective user-centred web site and information architecture. It ensures that the architecture of the site reflects prioritised user needs, fosters greater user acceptance and repeat visits and ensures that web site development is focused and delivers access to desired services and information.

• Audience and priority
  • Who is the audience(s) for the web site?
  • What are the characteristics of the major audience or user groups and their interaction needs and what priority do they have in relation to information and services delivery?
  • How has your analysis of these audiences and their interactions influenced the information architecture on the site?

4. Content

‘IA is the bridge between the conceptual and strategic aspects of site development and the practical matters of design and implementation. IA can shape your site in a way that draws people in, entices them to explore, helps them find what they're looking for, and encourages them to come back. But IA won't help you if your content isn't compelling.’ (1) Conducting a content inventory is a technique used to gain a detailed listing of either possible content (for a new web site) or existing content. This process is used to ensure that the information architecture provides users with access to targeted relevant, good quality content. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the available information base, streamlines subsequent content gathering, identifies content duplications and gaps and growth areas and enables alignment of online content with other information and service delivery channels.

• Content inventory
  • What is the main source of content for this web site?
• Content quality
  • What criteria are or will be used to select content for the web site?
  • What processes are or will be used to maintain the relevance and quality of the content on the web site?
  • What criteria are or will be used to retire content from the web site?

5. Navigation

The Navigation systems of a web site are fundamental elements of the web site information architecture. They facilitate the delivery of efficient and intuitive access to information and services and are key determinants of whether users find a site usable. Web site taxonomies are the major navigation approach on most web sites They should offer intuitive, user centred terms as pathways to information and services, leading to more effective menu usage and task completion.

• Information architecture design
  • What is the hierarchy or structure of the web site?
  • What is the information architecture of the major pages on the web site?
  • How have consumer and business area research, site statistics and search term statistics been used to inform the information architecture?
  • What are the specific features of the information architecture?
• Categories at level 1 - Taxonomy
  • What are the major level 1 taxonomic categories (referred to as primary categories in the Discoverability Standard)?
• Categories across all levels - site map
  • How is the site map organised and displayed?
• Metadata requirements
  • What are the metadata elements used on this web site?
  • Web site specific metadata
  • Meta tags used on the web site
  • How has web site metadata been used?

6. Controlled Vocabularies

Controlled vocabularies (or controlled languages) are lists of standardised terminology that can be used for indexing and retrieval of information. They can also support the preparation of content to ensure keyword density. They are used to tag documents and then to find content through navigation or search. A web site taxonomy is a controlled vocabulary. Use of a controlled vocabulary increases consistency in tagging and can help match users’ natural language with preferred terms.

• Controlled vocabularies - what controlled languages or vocabulary / ies are used on the web site?
• What strategies are in place to manage the relevance, compliance and currency of the controlled vocabularies?

7. Search

Search is such a prominent part of the web user experience that users have developed a firm mental model and expectations about its operation and success.(2)

• Internal search
  • What features of this search engine have been applied to assist in the presentation of results?
  • How does the search engine search the web site?
  • What does the internal search engine search?
• External Search (Search engine optimisation)
  • External search is the most popular means of finding web sites
    • Is the site discoverable by Victoria Online?
    • On which search engines and directory sites is the web site listed?
    • Describe the activities that have been undertaken to increase levels of search engine optimisation for your web site
    • What search term combinations should return pages from this site as high ranking Google results?

8. Web site Design

A strong correlation exists between user satisfaction and loyalty. Ensuring that the information architecture aids users in finding what they are looking for not only saves on re-development costs but also increases the return visits from users.

• Content presentation
  • Describe the current or expected design features on your site.
  • What documentation is available too manage the presentation of content on your web site
• Usability testing of the information architecture
  • What usability testing has been undertaken?
  • What were the main outcomes of the usability testing activity? How did it influence changes to the information architecture
• Accessibility compliance
  • What barriers or design considerations influence your ability to achieve a higher level of accessibility compliance?

9. Change Management Schedule

The ultimate aim of managing change and growth in a web site is to ensure that the site remains relevant to users and that there is continuous improvement of the discovery experience. Planned and governed maintenance ensure that any changes or expansions of the site take place within a change process and governance framework.

• Information Architecture Governance
  • What planned processes are in place to manage change to the information architecture?
  • What processes are used to assess the impact of changes to the information architecture?
  • How is business intelligence, such as usage patterns, site statistics, search pathways and search terms, used to inform changes to the information architecture?
  • What committee or reference group oversees changes to the information architecture?
• Business Intelligence
  • What statistical analysis and reporting tools are used to monitor the web site?
  • What web site information is gathered and why is it gathered?
  • How is this information used to inform the initial and ongoing development of the web site?
  • What are the common issues and patterns of behaviour identified as part of the analysis of business intelligence?
  • How is web site business intelligence reported and shared with key stakeholders?

Further Information

The Information Architecture Template is available in Microsoft Word Format (529kb). (This document requires the use of Microsoft Word Reader)

Web site Management Framework
Government Services Group
Department of Treasury and Finance
Phone: 61 3 9651 5656
Email: administration@egov.vic.gov.au

Footnotes

(1) Interview between Jeff Vreen and Jesse James Garrett in Digital Web Magazine

(2) Nielsen, J ' Mental models for searching are getting firmer'

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