Information Archetecture Tutorial

Lesson 1By: Webmonkey Staff

It sounds simple enough, but there are a lot of bad sites on the web. A bad site begins with bad ideas, and poorly conceived goals. If you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve, why bother building a site? 

For your site.

When Setting GoalsGroup Consensus is Paramount

1. You want everyone to agree on the contents and purpose of the site that you are going to build.    

2. You want the most important people involved with setting goals.

3. Remember, group consensus can make or break the project!!!  

But you don't want to hear from...

SO, HOW DO YOU START?

First, determine who are the most important people thenlet them run their mouth.

Make sure there is healthy communication between the people involved. You want them to feel like they are contributing to the site. 

FORMAL DEFINITION vs. INFORMAL DEFINITION

Once you determine you the most important people are you have to decide whether you want to do go through a formal or informal process of defining goals.

What are the differences between the two?

A formal definition process involves calling meetings with key players, setting agendas and preparing questions. It is time sensitive and requires keen sharp project management skills.

Though just as effective, and informal definition process involves talking to people one-at-a-time, taking notes and following up when necessary. 

Scale and time should determine which to use.

-What is the mission or purpose of the organization?

-What are the short/long term goals of the site?

-Who is the intended audience?

-Why will people come to your site?

Asking QuestionsAsking Questions

Help the world to become a better

place

To help the less fortunate become more

To become well known 

throughout the world

What is the mission or purpose of the organization?

What is the mission or purpose of the organization?

What are the short/long term goals of the site?

Short Term Goal

Short Term Goal

Short Term Goal

What are the short/long term goals of the site?

Long Term Goal

Who is the intended audience?Why will people come to your site?

Children?Teens?Adults?

Only the best service!

The best products

We have the best prices!

Create a set of questions:• pass them out in a

meeting• talk one-on-one

Filter The Answers

• Which goals are most important?

• Rephrase your questions as your goals

• Group goals into categories 

Turning Answers 

Into Goals

• everybody ranks each goal

• if in categories, rank within as well

• write down name categories!

GoalsRanking

your 

• after collecting ranks, create the master list

• people's opinions matter!

• time to get goals approved

PartThe Hard

.

once agreement is reached by those involved:

DOCUMENT GOALS

.

you

Publicly

your  client

Publish

.

If there's time you should write a summary of the goals.

Because these goals are the basis to your design document

.

Once goals are published you then create the first chapter of the design document

Guess what the first chapter is called!

GOALS!

Sources:    

http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/02/Information_Architecture_Tutorial_-_Lesson_1

http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/02/Information_Architecture_Tutorial_-_Lesson_1#Define_the_Site.27s_Goals

http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/02/Information_Architecture_Tutorial_-_Lesson_1#Ask_Questions

http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/02/Information_Architecture_Tutorial_-_Lesson_1#Filter_the_Answers

http://www.webmonkey.com/2010/02/Information_Architecture_Tutorial_-_Lesson_1#Design_Document_-_Site_Goals

Group Members:

• Andy Yung• Loc To• Damon Packwood• Cristina Maria• Suzanne Tevebaugh