Information Information Architecture Architecture

& Project & Project ManagementManagement

Presented by Thuy NguyenPresented by Thuy NguyenNovember 29November 29thth 2005 2005

OutlineOutline• IA & PM definedIA & PM defined• Information ecologies: context, Information ecologies: context,

content, userscontent, users• Some models for IA in construction Some models for IA in construction

PMPM• Superintendents – a case studySuperintendents – a case study• ConclusionsConclusions• ReferencesReferences

IA - Definition & IA - Definition & ClarificationClarification

• IA: “IA: “The structural design of an The structural design of an information space to facilitate task information space to facilitate task completion and intuitive access to completion and intuitive access to contentcontent” (Rosenfeld & Morville, 2002)” (Rosenfeld & Morville, 2002)

• Closely related to but NOT:Closely related to but NOT:– Information SystemInformation System– Information ManagementInformation Management– Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Management

• Unclear boundaries between Unclear boundaries between information & knowledgeinformation & knowledge

PM – Scope of InterestPM – Scope of Interest• Management at project, NOT Management at project, NOT

corporate levelcorporate level• Focus on CONSTRUCTION project Focus on CONSTRUCTION project

managementmanagement• Reasons:Reasons:

– To be more focusedTo be more focused– Heterogeneous information environment Heterogeneous information environment

big challenge for IA big challenge for IA– Great need for IA but still in primitive Great need for IA but still in primitive

stage due to resistancestage due to resistance

ContextContext• Multidisciplinary environmentMultidisciplinary environment• Complex natureComplex nature• Lengthy process:Lengthy process:

– PlanningPlanning– DesignDesign– ConstructionConstruction

• More arts than science More arts than science • More related to real-space IA than the More related to real-space IA than the

WWWWWW

ContentContent• Great amount of contentGreat amount of content• Need different formats for different Need different formats for different

groups of users:groups of users:– Designers & planners: websites & intranetsDesigners & planners: websites & intranets– Construction personnel: non-web Construction personnel: non-web

applications & toolsapplications & tools• Content management is dynamic: Content management is dynamic:

updated frequently to reflect project updated frequently to reflect project progressprogress

• Lots of discrepancies Lots of discrepancies

Users of IA in Construction Users of IA in Construction ProjectsProjects

• Users across disciplines with great Users across disciplines with great variation in:variation in:– Information needsInformation needs– Educational backgroundEducational background– Familiarity with IAFamiliarity with IA

• Information seeking behaviors:Information seeking behaviors:– Designers & planners: more browsingDesigners & planners: more browsing– Construction personnel: more askingConstruction personnel: more asking

Models for IAModels for IA

(Messner (2003), An Architecture for Knowledge Management in the AEC Industry)

Another ModelAnother Model

(Chan & Leung (2004), Prototype Web-Based Construction Project Management System)

Superintendents – A User Superintendents – A User Case StudyCase Study

• Superintendents’ job:Superintendents’ job:– Tasks of great cognitive demandTasks of great cognitive demand– Diagnosing potential space and time Diagnosing potential space and time

conflictsconflicts– Keeping updated on progressKeeping updated on progress

• Use little or no IT tools:Use little or no IT tools:– Not familiarNot familiar– Tools are not usefulTools are not useful– Tools useful but too difficult to useTools useful but too difficult to use

Superintendents (2)Superintendents (2)• Example - use of drawings:Example - use of drawings:

– Prefer paper drawings, highlight directly Prefer paper drawings, highlight directly on themon them

– Mobile devices difficult to handle, low Mobile devices difficult to handle, low visibilities, time consuming to updatevisibilities, time consuming to update

• Information flow:Information flow:– No IA, information provided often uselessNo IA, information provided often useless– There no effective information There no effective information

infrastructure to store useful informationinfrastructure to store useful information– Everything happens in his headEverything happens in his head

ConclusionsConclusions• There is a pressing need to promote IA in There is a pressing need to promote IA in

construction project managementconstruction project management• Construction projects are complex Construction projects are complex

information continuum with lots of variation information continuum with lots of variation in needs and behaviors and great resistance in needs and behaviors and great resistance to changeto change

• Effective & efficient IA seriously absent in Effective & efficient IA seriously absent in the fieldthe field

• Models for IA exist but not widely Models for IA exist but not widely implementedimplemented

ReferencesReferences• Chan, S.L., and Leung, N.N. (2004). “Prototype Chan, S.L., and Leung, N.N. (2004). “Prototype

Web-Based Construction Project Management Web-Based Construction Project Management System”. System”. Journal of Construction Engineering & Journal of Construction Engineering & ManagementManagement, 130 (6), p935-943 , 130 (6), p935-943

• Messner, J.I. (2003). “An Architecture for Knowledge Management in the AEC Industry”. Construction Research, 120 (104)

• Rosenfeld, L., and Morville, P. (2002). Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. O’Reilly Media, Inc., United States of America

• Signal vs. Noise (2005). An exercise in clarity: Explain “information architecture” in 10 words or less. URL: http://www.37signals.com/svn/archives2/an_exercise_in_clarity_explain_information_architecture_in_10_words_or_less.php, Date accessed: Nov 28, 2005