Developing an Developing an Information ArchitectureInformation Architecture
IA 201
Mark FerrazMark Ferraz
SolutionsMark
Houston, TX
www.solutionsmark.com [email protected]
President, SolutionsMark. Mark is an Senior Information Architect and Developer specializing in Information Management, Collaboration Tools, and Knowledge Management systems for medium to large enterprises. Mark has over ten years of experience designing, managing, and implementing complex technology projects involving application implementation, supporting infrastructure, custom development, and integration. Most recently Mark has been working with the team at Chevron as the Technical Development Lead for one of the largest SharePoint deployments to date.
Session DiscussionSession Discussion
Why Information Architecture Importance of Architecture Forethought Office SharePoint Server 2007 Capabilities
Identifying Opportunity Going Vertical SharePoint as a Service Information Arrangement/Context
How to best combine the capabilities of SharePoint with the identified opportunities to create value and emergent capability within an organization
Why Information Architecture Why Information Architecture
GOALS A centralized place for storing and locating data quickly in a
consistent, yet flexible user experience that is in alignment with the organizational goals.
To provide rich capabilities for working with and providing additional metadata for both internal as well as external content.
A well considered Information Architecture is both essential for implementation success, as well as for
the overall supportability and longevity of the system over time.
Work Towards a Shared Goal and VisionWork Towards a Shared Goal and VisionAlice: “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”
Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
Alice: “I don’t much care where …”
Cat: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Best PracticeBest Practice
Architecture Forethought: Do the necessary discovery and planning work needed to answer these questions:
Who will be visiting a given site?
What will they be doing within the site?
What level of information security is necessary within the site?
““Who” - Defining our AudienceWho” - Defining our Audience
Not the “Audience” feature in Office SharePoint Server 2007
An Identified Group of Users who visit the site Access to the site and it’s associated content
““What” – Activities & CapabilitiesWhat” – Activities & Capabilities
CapabilityInformation Objective
Audience
Publishing Others Need to See Wide
CollaborationShared Among The
TeamMember
Records We Need To Keep Managed
““Security” – Access & PermissionsSecurity” – Access & Permissions
Web ApplicationWeb Application
Http://<web-Http://<web-application.fabrikam.com/application.fabrikam.com/Web Application Security Web Application Security
PolicyPolicy
Site CollectionSite Collection
/ -or- /<Site Collection>// -or- /<Site Collection>/Top Site Security Top Site Security
PermissionsPermissions
Sub-SiteSub-Site
/<Sub Site>/<Sub Site>Sub Site Security Sub Site Security
PermissionsPermissions
Information Context
Key StakeholdersKey Stakeholders
Type of StakeholderEntity Roles/ Involvement
Project Sponsor(s)Initiates, funds and approves the effort
Customer(s) (also known as business sponsors)
Takes receipt of the solution and expects to gain business value from the solution
User(s) Interacts with the solution
Operations Hosts the solution
Gaining Quality FeedbackGaining Quality Feedback
Communication Team
Facilitator
Architecture/Design Team
Best PracticeBest PracticeInvolve stakeholders early and leverage good
communication practices and tools in order to: Collect good accurate, quality feedback from stakeholders
through the creation and distribution of clear, concise and effective communication.
Collect feedback through: Survey Interview
Joint Sessions
Stakeholder AnalysisStakeholder Analysis
Influence
ImpactLow High
Low
High
Managed RelationshipInformedRelationship
CoordinatedRelationship
Source: Microsoft
Stakeholder AnalysisStakeholder Analysis
Influence
ImpactLow High
Low
High InformedRelationship
Very influential but low to moderate impact – keep apprised of project status
but do not need to be closely managed
Managed Relationship
CoordinatedRelationship
Source: Microsoft
Stakeholder AnalysisStakeholder Analysis
Influence
ImpactLow High
Low
High
InformedRelationship
CoordinatedRelationship
Managed RelationshipVery influential with significant impact –
relationship needs to be well managed
Source: Microsoft
Stakeholder AnalysisStakeholder Analysis
Influence
ImpactLow High
Low
High
Managed Relationship
CoordinatedRelationship
Low to moderate influence but significant impact –
continually engage through out the lifecycle
InformedRelationship
Source: Microsoft
Satisifiers:generates proportional satisfaction with the quality and quantity of what is delivered
Requirements Classification & Prioritization Requirements Classification & Prioritization (Kano Analysis Diagram)(Kano Analysis Diagram)
Satis
fiers
Dissatisfiers
Delighters
Customer Satisfaction
Customer Dissatisfaction
Meets Expectations
Misses Expectations
Delighters:unanticipated requirements; presence generates significant satisfaction; absence is acceptable
and therefore do not generate dissatisfaction
Dissatisifiers:expected requirements; absence generates significant dissatisfaction; presence generates a
diminishing dissatisfaction towards a neutral feeling
Source: Microsoft
Managing Iterations using Kano Analysis DiagramManaging Iterations using Kano Analysis Diagram
Dissatisfiers
Delighters
Customer Satisfaction
Customer Dissatisfaction
Meets Expectations
Misses Expectations
Satis
fiers
Minimum
Acceptance Level
Iteration #3
Iteration #2
Iteration #1
Source: Microsoft
Piloting Your Architecture Piloting Your Architecture
Test driving your design with focused group of stakeholders to validate your assumptions
Expand activity if need to ensure acceptance
Re-evaluate and make changes/ enhancements to your design prior to going live
Best PracticeBest PracticeDeliver meaningful, sustainable, and reusable business
value by offering SharePoint as a Service: Create a service offering platform on which usage specific
solutions can be built. Create service offerings that align vertically with activities of
the business and encourage organizational capability. Provide for the automated movement of content throughout it’s
lifecycle.
Horizontal Capabilities & Vertical SegmentsHorizontal Capabilities & Vertical Segments
Publishing Portal for Viewer Audience
Collaboration
Records Management
R & DEngineering Design QA/QC
Going VerticalGoing Vertical
Publishing CapabilityPublishing Capability
Information Others Need Information Others Need To SeeTo See Wide Wide
AudienceAudience
Collaboration CapabilityCollaboration Capability
Information Shared Among Information Shared Among The TeamThe Team Member Member
AudienceAudience
Publish Publish Approved Approved ContentContent
Retain Retain Important Important ContentContent
Pro
ject
Pro
ject
Sit
es
Sit
es
Dep
art
men
tD
ep
art
men
tS
ites
Sit
es
Asset
Asset
Sit
es
Sit
es
Work
flow
Work
flow
Sit
es
Sit
es
Best PracticeBest PracticeAllow for the creation of a meaningful information context
within your information architecture by using a pluggable, building-blocks-based design approach that:
Allows for the significant diversity that can exist in highly distributed organizations or across business functions.
Provides any single group the ability to get started quickly and with minimal training.
Provides overall design consistency, while promoting the unique capabilities and work styles of any given workgroup.
Provides a contextually clear user experience, making it easy for users to understand the significance of a piece of information, as well as the context necessary to find or store information quickly, clearly, and easily.
Architecture Building Blocks Architecture Building Blocks Web ApplicationWeb Application•Defined within a FarmDefined within a Farm•Topmost object within the hierarchy and the native container of the topmost site collectionTopmost object within the hierarchy and the native container of the topmost site collection•Representative of a specific Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) Web site, and defines a specific IIS application scopeRepresentative of a specific Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) Web site, and defines a specific IIS application scope•Has no visual presentation within the user interface and it is in no way visually apparent to the end userHas no visual presentation within the user interface and it is in no way visually apparent to the end user•Can be extended into multiple zonesCan be extended into multiple zones
ZoneZone•Defined within a Web ApplicationDefined within a Web Application•Allows users to access the same Web site through separate and independent URLsAllows users to access the same Web site through separate and independent URLs•Has its own load-balanced URL (protocol, host reader, and port)Has its own load-balanced URL (protocol, host reader, and port)•Allows for many configurations (multiple authentication stores, caching scenarios, content databases, or custom HTTP modules)Allows for many configurations (multiple authentication stores, caching scenarios, content databases, or custom HTTP modules)
Managed PathManaged Path•Defined within a Web ApplicationDefined within a Web Application•Used to incorporate a second tier of top-level site collectionsUsed to incorporate a second tier of top-level site collections•Implement either an explicit inclusion (allows you to assign an explicit URL that is appended to the path e.g. http://fabrikam.com/dept)Implement either an explicit inclusion (allows you to assign an explicit URL that is appended to the path e.g. http://fabrikam.com/dept)or a wildcard inclusion (automatically assigns a path name e.g. http://fabrikam.com/depts/)or a wildcard inclusion (automatically assigns a path name e.g. http://fabrikam.com/depts/)
Site CollectionsSite Collections•Defined within a Managed PathDefined within a Managed Path•Are the native containers of Office SharePoint Server 2007 sitesAre the native containers of Office SharePoint Server 2007 sites•Contain a single top-level site that in turn may contain any number of child sitesContain a single top-level site that in turn may contain any number of child sites•Enforce specific feature and security boundaries that cannot be inherited or discovered by a parent or child site collectionEnforce specific feature and security boundaries that cannot be inherited or discovered by a parent or child site collection•The top-level site collection in a Web application may contain site collections through the use of managed pathsThe top-level site collection in a Web application may contain site collections through the use of managed paths•Features that are bound within a site collection and cannot be shared include global navigation, branding, security groups,Features that are bound within a site collection and cannot be shared include global navigation, branding, security groups,content types, content sharing Web Parts, site aggregation Web Parts, usage reports, alert management and workflowscontent types, content sharing Web Parts, site aggregation Web Parts, usage reports, alert management and workflows
Sub-sitesSub-sites•Defined within a Site CollectionDefined within a Site Collection•May share navigation between sitesMay share navigation between sites•May inherit permissions from parent sitesMay inherit permissions from parent sites•Allow for the sharing of lists between sitesAllow for the sharing of lists between sites•Allow for the sharing of design elements (such as themes or styles) between sitesAllow for the sharing of design elements (such as themes or styles) between sites
Building Blocks Applied Building Blocks Applied FarmFarm
Portals Portals (Web Application)(Web Application)http://portal.fabrikam.comhttp://portal.fabrikam.com
Project Sites Project Sites (Web Application)(Web Application)http://projects.fabrikam.comhttp://projects.fabrikam.com
““/” <Root> (Managed Path)/” <Root> (Managed Path)““/” <Root> (Managed Path)/” <Root> (Managed Path)““/” <Root> (Managed Path)/” <Root> (Managed Path)““/” <Root> (Managed Path)/” <Root> (Managed Path)
““/depts/” (Managed Path)/depts/” (Managed Path)““/depts/” (Managed Path)/depts/” (Managed Path) ““/sites/” (Managed Path)/sites/” (Managed Path)““/sites/” (Managed Path)/sites/” (Managed Path)
Corporate Portal (Site Collection)Corporate Portal (Site Collection)http://portal.fabrikam.com/http://portal.fabrikam.com/
Corporate Portal (Site Collection)Corporate Portal (Site Collection)http://portal.fabrikam.com/http://portal.fabrikam.com/
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
Projects Portal (Site Collection)Projects Portal (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/http://projects.fabrikam.com/
Projects Portal (Site Collection)Projects Portal (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/http://projects.fabrikam.com/
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
Marketing Project 1(Site Collection)Marketing Project 1(Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/mrkt1http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/mrkt1
Marketing Project 1(Site Collection)Marketing Project 1(Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/mrkt1http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/mrkt1
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
IT Project 1(Site Collection)IT Project 1(Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/it1http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/it1
IT Project 1(Site Collection)IT Project 1(Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/it1http://projects.fabrikam.com/sites/it1
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
Finance Dept. (Site Collection)Finance Dept. (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/financehttp://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/finance
Finance Dept. (Site Collection)Finance Dept. (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/financehttp://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/finance
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
Marketing Dept. (Site Collection)Marketing Dept. (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/marketinghttp://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/marketing
Marketing Dept. (Site Collection)Marketing Dept. (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/marketinghttp://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/marketing
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
Sales Dept. (Site Collection)Sales Dept. (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/saleshttp://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/sales
Sales Dept. (Site Collection)Sales Dept. (Site Collection)http://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/saleshttp://projects.fabrikam.com/depts/sales
Sites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and ContentSites, Settings, and Content
Example 1Example 1
Site l Production Team: Print Media
List l Document Library List: Proof Documents
Item l Document Content Type: Wiget 101 Print Ad.doc
Field l Project: Summer Sales BoostField l Status : Pending ReviewField I Creative Team : Graphic DesignField l Asset: Press 201
Site l Department: Wingtip Toys Marketing
Example 2Example 2Site l Department: Wingtip Toys Marketing
Site l Project: Summer Sales Boost
List l Document Library List: Proof Documents
Field l Stats: Summer Sales BoostField l Production Team: Pending ReviewField I Creative Team: Graphic DesignField l Asset: Press 201
Item l Document Content Type: Wiget 101 Print Ad.doc
Example 3Example 3
Site l Asset: Press 201
List l Document Library List: Proof Documents
Field l Department: Wingtip Toys MarketingField l Project: Summer Sales Boost Field I Creative Team: Graphic DesignField l Status: Pending Review
Site l Production Team: PrintMedia
Item l Document Content Type: Wiget 101 Print Ad.doc
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