[Sigia-l] Standardized classification

[Locatelli at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/22/02 2:33:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
ktruong at covisint.com writes:

> I was just wondering what are the best ways of accommodating users who have
> different schemas the information being presented?  

> In addition, is there great need for standardized classification?  When
> are they valuable?  When are they not?
> 
> Kristen Truong
> 

Don't overlook the power of site indexes to lead users from their own 
vocabulary to that used by the site. Cross-references of the form "X. See Y" 
allow entry points that employ users' vocabulary (check your search logs for 
that), but bring the user directly to the information they need. The form of 
the see reference instructs users as to the terminology the site uses, so 
they shouldn't be surprised when they find the are on a page with a different 
title or within a different section than the one they were originally looking 
for.

Classifications essentially serve two main function: collocation (bringing 
like things together) and differentiation (keeping apart things that are not 
exactly alike). But classifications, also serve multiple objectives: (1) 
finding entities that correspond to the user's stated search criteria, (2) 
identifying an entity (i.e., that this is the thing being sought), (3) 
selecting an entity appropriate to the user's needs and (4) acquiring access 
to the entity described. 

The exact nature of the classification will change depending on which of the 
objectives is most important in the context of the specific system being 
designed.

Standardized classifications can be helpful in allowing the user to develop a 
mental model of the content. Clearly classifications become important the 
large the amount of information on the site and the more similar objects that 
are that need to be distinguished for the user. Classifications aren't easy 
to create or maintain, so the cost and effort involved need to be taken into 
account when considering the use of a classification. I should point out that 
all sites use a classification that is exposed in the navigation system. 
Someone has decided that like pages go together and has grouped then under 
the big buckets of the site. And that's a classification. It may not be 
completely exposed to the user or necessarily well though out, but the 
classification does exist.

If you're interested in more information about the theoretical background of 
classification, you might read Elaine Svenonius's "The intellectual 
Foundation of Information Organization."

Fred Leise
Information Architect/Taxonomy Designer/Indexer
<A HREF="http://www.contextualanalysis.com/">www.ContextualAnalysis.com</A> 
773-561-1993
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