[Sigia-l] Re: Card sorting - do not like but what else is there

[Tania]

Thanks for the card sorting alternative suggestions of "prototypes" and 
"personas and scenarios".  

I actually utilise these as well but find them more useful for interface 
design and usability testing.  I have not used a prototype or persona to 
actually define an IA.  I agree personas and scenarios are a good way of 
guiding and checking the IA to make sure you have covered all key user 
tasks and goals.  But how can a persona actually be used to sort a large 
quantity of data into logical groups for a site with a number of user 
groups.  

 >From the section of Cooper's book that I have read (The inmats are 
running the asylum) he suggests that things should be designed for one 
particular user group if you want to do it properly.  If you are 
designing a car I agree but if you are designing a government website, 
you have to cater for a number of different user groups and develop an 
IA which reflects the wide ranging goals of a number of different 
groups.  In a recent project I worked on, we identified 43 different 
user groups and developed personas and scenarios for all of them! 
However, whilst our extensive user research and understanding of user 
goals helped, I do not see how we could actually use the personas for 
defining the IA.  However, I am happy to be further enlightened.

Regarding prototypes, in my view they are the "ends" rather than the 
"means" and reflect the output of the IA processs - unless I missed 
something.    
regards

Tania Lang
Peak Usability
Brisbane, Australia