Enterprise IA methodologies: starting two steps earlier

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Enterprise IA methodologiesstarting two steps
earlier

• James Robertson, Step Two Designs(jamesr_at_steptwo.
  com.au)

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Usually we know the problem, the challenge is to
design the solution
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Within the enterprise, we often dont fully
understand the problem
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For example, were given a job to implement a
call center intranet
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This is actually one of the main sources of
information for staff
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as are these documents,sitting on every desk
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These documents were actually the big problem
for staff
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Email was the other big source of pain
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Enterprise IA methodologies
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Typical IA methodology
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Enterprise IA methodology
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Key principles
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Is the identified problem thesymptom or the
cause?
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Our methodologies often assume that
organisations work like this
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whereas they are much morelike this in reality
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Enterprise needs analysis is ethnographic,
focusing on activities and environments
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You cant deliver effective solutions to people
you havent personally met
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There are no shortage of problemsto be solved
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but the real challenge is knowing where to
start
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Lets use nurses in a hospital as the final
example
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Summary
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Summary

• As IAs, there is a clear solution to deliver, our
  job is to work out the best way to deliver it
• Our efforts focus on determine the best design to
  meet the needs of users (and the business)
• Within the organisation, things are more complex
• So our methodologies need to start two steps
  earlier
• First we conduct ethnographic needs analysis
• Then we guide the approach, and target efforts

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Intranet Innovation Awards

• www.steptwo.com.au/iia/
• We have just launched global awards that
  recognise individual innovations of intranets
  (not sites as a whole)
• The awards are supported by a network of
  intranet-savvy organisations and individuals
  (including Jared Spool, Tony Byrne, Toby Ward and
  many more)
• Entries close by 15 May 2007
• Get your name in lights!

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Questions?

• James Robertsonjamesr_at_steptwo.com.au
• Website www.steptwo.com.au
• RSS feed www.steptwo.com.au/columntwo/index.xml

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