[Sigia-l] IA Missions

[Thomas Donehower]

Hi all,

I've been thinking a lot about "Real World" IA. My experience is only from 
an Agency background so I might be biased. However, it seems that a lot of 
thinking out there doesn't account for the "Messy Real World" just like a 
lot of online user experiences don't account for the "Messy Real World." The 
result of this thinking has led me to want to spur discussion about  "IA 
Missions". IA Missions are those "Messy Real World" scenarios where you're 
assigned a task and have to demonstrate value in a minimum amt. of time. 
Below, I've  shared one IA mission that may or may not be something you can 
relate to, but I'm hoping you can. I'm proposing a format for them and 
sharing this one with you hoping that others can relate, offer their 
"Solution" and possibly there own IA Mission(s).

I'm hoping that this post will spur the posting of many IA Missions w/ the 
actual solution the poster used and that each IA Mission will prompt the 
posting of alternative solutions.
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IA Mission: CONTRIBUTE TO BIZ DEV PROPOSAL

Context: It's 9:00 AM and out of the blue, a biz dev. guy swings by and says 
"Hey, we need some IA stuff for this proposal by tomorrow. You can do it 
right?" You say "yes" and put everything else on the back burner. Your given 
the RFP and get to work.

Biz Goals: From the poorly written RFP you learn that the project is a 
redesign of an existing site and that the client's goals are 1)consistent 
branding, 2)provide product info. 3) provide a seamless user experience 
4)Increase "stickiness" 5) Track ROI

You also learn that everything is being repurposed and that there is no 
budget for new functionality. The biz dev guy tells you It's just a facelift 
and navigational rework. He says "They just want it to be easier to use, but 
still look credible."

Time: You have 8 hours to provide value to the proposal.

Tools: You have a computer w/ fast connection and the RFP. You cannot talk 
to the client and no one else on your team knows any more than what's in the 
RFP.

My Solution:
1) I started by reading the RFP and making notes along the way
2) I rapidly reviewed the existing site and made quick notes where I 
experienced confusion
3) I then went and looked at competing sites and took quick notes.
4) I created a detailed Feature/Functionality Matrix of the online market 
and showed gaps in the current site's content offerings
5)I created a quick Persona chart based on a quick discussion w/ a 
strategist and the info in the RFP about the target audience
6) I did a rapid IA assessment of the existing site where I pasted screen 
captures into PowerPoint and placed callouts pointing out areas of confusion 
in the navigation and individual page elements
7) Finally I drafted a preliminary wireframe showing a possible direction 
for the IA

Result: Looking back, it seems I was preoccupied with providing "quantity." 
I'm not sure I took the best approach and my gut says it doesn't make sense 
to start doing preliminary wire frames for a proposal. However, the Biz Dev. 
guy loved it, said "Looks good!" and we were invited to the pitch.

How would you have handled this IA Mission? What  IA Missions have been 
thrown at you? How did you handle them?

-Tom

Thomas Donehower
Sr. Information Architect

EURO RSCG NETHOD CIRCLE
200 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Main:    212-251-8800
Fax:      212-251-8819


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