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Information Architecture (Structure, Classification & Navigation) Standard

Whole of Victorian Government ICT Standard: Information Architecture

Website Management Framework

Short Description

Provides for a consistent and efficient user experience through a uniform approach to the design, presentation and operational management of Victorian Government websites.

Identifier: WEB/STD/08
Version No.: 2.0
Status: Approved
Date of effect: 1 December 2010
Next review date: 3 December 2012

Owner: Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victorian Government

Issuing authority: Government Services Group, Department of Treasury and Finance, Victorian Government

Standard: Information Architecture (Structure, Classification & Navigation) Standard - WEB/STD/08

Requirement

1. Departments/agencies must develop and maintain (1):

• a documented information architecture (IA) strategy which describes, justifies and provides a strategic direction for the IA of their portfolio of websites; and/or
• documented IA plans for each individual website within their portfolio.

2. IA plans must, at a minimum, address and document all of the following IA components (2)

• business needs analysis;
• user research and analysis;
• content inventory;
• controlled vocabularies and metadata;
• website navigation and hierarchy;
• website layout;
• search model and behaviour;
• usability testing;
• monitoring and maintenance;
• change management; and
• ongoing review.

3. All IA strategies and plans must be reviewed annually to ensure they remain current and relevant to users.

4. All new and refreshed IA strategies and plans must be endorsed by the department's/agency's Website Management Taskforce (WMT).

Overview

Information architecture is the:

• design, organisation and layout of a website's user interface structure;
• organising of a website's structure and content through the labelling and categorisation of information;
• design of navigation and search systems; and
• identification and use of language and vocabulary schemas.

Information architecture addresses the needs of both the business and its users and ensures responsiveness and efficiency. Information architecture strategies and plans facilitate these objectives and aid in the proactive, ongoing review of websites throughout their respective life cycles.

Rationale

• To enable users to simply find information and services and complete tasks.
• To support and communicate the business objectives of the Government.
• To provide citizens with a consistent, predictable and satisfying experience when interacting with government websites.

Derivation

None

Related principles/ objectives

• Citizens enjoy a consistent and high quality user experience
• Websites are planned and managed based on whole-of-life
• Resources are shared and re-used

In scope

• All departments, the four inner budget agencies (Environment Protection Authority, State Revenue Office, VicRoads and Victoria Police) and CenITex.
• All internet sites including channels, portals and subdomains.

Audience

Departmental/agency Website Management Taskforce Coordinators, website owners, website managers, content authors, designers, developers and anyone responsible for the management of a website.

Compliance Date

Twelve months from the date of effect of this standard.

Please note that this is a refreshed standard. The previous version of this standard (version 1.0) applies until the compliance date of this new standard is reached. Agencies may move to compliance earlier than the compliance date.

Reporting requirements

Annual reporting using the Government Services Division WMF template.

Guidelines, toolkits and references

• Guideline: Developing and Managing an Information Architecture (in pdf format 1093kb) (WEB/GUIDE/03), CIO Website, Department of Treasury and Finance (This document requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader).
• Template: Information Architecture Plan (WEB/TEMP/02), CIO Website, Department of Treasury and Finance

Further Information

For further information please contact web.standards@dtf.vic.gov.au

Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

Content Inventory - A content inventory is the process and result of cataloguing the contents of a website.(3)

Controlled vocabularies - Controlled vocabularies are lists of standardised and approved terms that can be used to assist in categorising information, classifying content, developing navigational elements, indexing and the retrieval of information.

Information architecture plan - A document that addresses the information architecture components of a specific website.

Information architecture strategy - A process and resulting document that addresses information architecture components and principles from an organisational perspective.

Metadata - Data which describes the content or information displayed on a website page.

Schema - A schema is a model for describing the structure of information (4).

Usability - Usability is the study of the ease with which people can use a thing, e.g. a website, to achieve a goal. (5)

WMF - Website Management Framework

WMT - Website Management Taskforce

WoVG - Whole of Victorian Government

Footnotes

(1) Website Management Taskforces (WMTs) should determine whether to develop an organisational IA strategy, individual IA plans or both.

(2) IA plans can be documented using the WMF template (WEB/TEMP/02) or a suitable alternative.

(3) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_inventory

(4) What Is a Schema?, Norman Walsh 1999 (www.xml.com/pub/a/1999/07/schemas/whatis.html)

(5) Adapted from the Wikipedia entry for usability (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability), accessed 14 July 2010.

Alternative Formats:

The standard is available from the Government Services Group in pdf format (186kb). (This document requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader). .

Last updated: 14 February 2011

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