INFM 700: Session 9The Real World: Software, Business and
Process IssuesPaul JacobsThe iSchoolUniversity of Maryland
Tuesday, April 21, 2009This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States See
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Todays TopicsOverview: Information Architecture in the Real
WorldSoftware ToolsContent management systemsPortalsOthers
(storefronts, personalization, . . .)Business Issues
IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
IA in the Real WorldWhat is the Real World?Anywhere where our
work affects profits, social justice, public service,
organizational efficiency, Companies, universities, nonprofits,
government services, Almost anywhere but here! (Not class, not
research)Whats the same (between the Real World and our in-class
textbook experience)Fundamentals (concepts, web technology)Most of
the methods (e.g. organization/navigation, card sort, blueprints,
wireframes, )
IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
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IA in the Real World (contd)What is different?Organizational
issues (esp., but not limited, to politics)Money (sometimes its
there, sometimes not)Timelines and time pressuresDiversity of
backgrounds, views, ages, etc. (with respect to technology)More
emphasis on getting it done, often less on novelty/leading edge
IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
How Does This Affect IA?OrganizationsRemember information
ecology content, users, contextWeb sites reflect organizational
strategy, culture, and valuesStakeholders need to be identified,
includedApproval process (e.g. business case, ROI)Legacy systems,
predetermined choices
IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
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Refresher (from eBay Study)IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
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Time & MoneyMost organizations are highly
budget-drivenSkilled labor is a precious commodityThat said, people
are sometimes easier to come by than capital (fixed cost vs.
incremental)Usually projects involve a mix of vendors, consultants,
staff, but mix can be skewed (by budget, politics)Twice as long and
twice as much mantra little reward for optimism in the real worldIA
& The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Working with Different GroupsExplaining technical concepts,
benefits to non-technical peopleEmbracing marketingTolerating bean
countingManaging the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt)IA &
The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Software Tools: OverviewMaybe the most important decision you
makeTrends in the industryIncreasing
complexityConsolidationInteroperability (e.g., objects, XML) Key IA
software toolsBack-end databasesContent management
systemsPortalsMiddlewarePersonalization, other utilitiesIA &
The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Software Tools (Survey)IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business IssuesSoftware products used to perform IA work:
Automated Categorization (16.2 %)Search Engines (56.4%)Thesaurus
Management (19.7%)Portal or Enterprise Knowledge Platform
(37.6%)Content Management Systems (65.8%)Web Analytics/Tracking
(62.4%)Diagramming Software (79.5%)Prototyping Tools (70.9%)User
Research and Testing (not included in survey)
M&R, p. 355, also on
line:http://iainstitute.org/en/learn/research/survey_3_software_for_ia.php
iSchool
Software Tools (Survey)IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business IssuesSoftware products used most to perform IA
work:
26.5%: Visio 11.0% Excel 10.1% Word 8.0% PowerPoint
http://iainstitute.org/en/learn/research/survey_3_software_for_ia.php
iSchool
Software Tools: Apples & OrangesTools used behind the scenes
in IA, site designDiagramming, prototyping, research, etc.Visio,
OmniGraffe, Survey Monkey, Dreamweaver, Websort, Platforms and key
components of sitesSearch engines, thesaurus, categorizationContent
management, portalsDatabases (why arent they in search
results?)Other site management toolsAnalytics (e.g. WebTrends),
SEOIA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Web Content ManagementHelps organize, maintain, deliver web
pagesStorage, tagging, version control and maintenanceDynamic page
creation (usually from a database)Other features, such as advanced
layout, personalizationProducts and vendorsInterwoven (now part of
Autonomy) LiveSite, TeamSite, MetataggerEMC
DocumentumVignetteMicrosoft CMSOpen Source (Drupal, Joomla,
Plone)IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Example: VignetteTeaser Our integrated Web content management,
portal and collaboration products and solutions create the backbone
for online interaction that is vibrant, collective and dynamic. We
help companies connect with their audiences online in ways that are
personal, social, transactional and available across multiple
channels.Example case study: Houston Community College
(www.hccs.edu)After exploration and assessment, the
cross-functional team set streamlining enrollment as its first and
primary aim. An error-free and efficient process would go a long
way to impress current and potential students.Vignette's Content
Management and Portal software would enable HCCS to:Support a
worldwide brand through Web-standard style management Dramatically
increase the number of business owners managing their own content
through decentralized content management Support a framework to
which content can be added over time while maintaining a
student-centric navigation and content experience Support HCCS's
business processes and changes to those processes in a dynamic Web
environment IA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
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iSchool
PortalsLike CMS, also integrates with other functionalityRoles,
locations, further customizationIntegration with legacy databases
and systemsProducts and vendorsMicrosoft SharepointIBM
WebsphereOracle PlumTreeIA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Example: IBM WebSphereTeaser: Web portals allow partners,
employees and customers to chose their user experience, with
personalized applications based on role, context, actions,
location, preferences and team collaboration needs. IBM WebSphere
Portal software provides a composite application or business mashup
framework and the advanced tooling needed to build flexible,
SOA-based solutions, as well as the unmatched scalability required
by any size organization.Example case study (see also
http://www.demos.ibm.com/solutions/portal/ ) By adopting the SOA
approach using WebSphere Business Modeler, IBM Process Server and
IBM WebSphere Integration Developer, there is no application or
information that we cannot reach." - Fred Nay, Director of
Computing Services, Ball State UniversityIA & The Real
World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
M&R on PortalsIA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business IssuesThe vision of seamless, intuitive access to all
enterprise and third-party content independent of geography,
ownership, and format is compelling and completely unrealized.
These tools claim to do everything. Make sure you know what they do
well.
M&R, p. 358
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Other SoftwareThesaurus managementHelp build custom lexicons,
taxonomies, controlled vocabulariesExamples: MultiTes,
DataHarmony
"I have been searching for a thesaurus management tool that
would aid me in the development of multiple taxonomies within a
single structure and export in XML. When I researched the market, I
saw MultiTes recommended more than any other package. After
reviewing its price structure and available tutorial, I was sold."
Lydia Bauer Content Librarian H&R Block I've been using
MultiTes 7.1 for several years to create thesauri for my journal
indexes and have found it quite useful. I just started to use the
new release, MultiTes 2005 Pro, and everything from data entry to
reports, including output in HTML or XML, and importing of text
files is much simpler and more intuitive. It's definitely worth
checking out if you're in the market for thesaurus software.
Carolyn Weaver Weaver Indexing Service www.weaverindexing.com
OthersIA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Business Issues (Early On)Many mentioned already (e.g.,
politics, enlisting stakeholders, money, existing infrastructure.
etc.)Making the business case:ROI vs. Columbus and the New
WorldBudgets and total cost of ownershipBuy inDefining the
strategyAlign actions with business goalsShow examplesIterate, and
involve usersIA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
Business Issues (What Goes Wrong)Were late, and were over budget
why?Overly optimistic projectionsDone in by the vendor/consultant
sales teamClient doesnt supply needed inputCant find the right
people (mythical person month)Nothing seems to work why?Other
vendor/people issuesIt looks great to me, but the client doesnt
agreeRequirements creepManagement changesBusiness changesIA &
The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
iSchool
RecapIA in the real world is as we study it, but with strings
attached (time, money, bureaucracy)Software tools are a necessary
ingredient of any technical solution:Must be approached very
carefullyOften make things much easierCan make this much more
complex, especially with large, disparate sitesPoint solutions are
expeditious, Integrated solutions favored by IT can be big wins, or
big losersLong-term business success depends on focus, buy-in,
careful vendor selection, constant user & stakeholder
involvementIA & The Real World
Software Tools
Business Issues
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