Tues
30
The friendly Australian friends of Infodesign have expanded the resources available for those who want usability and user experience seriously.
Go look at their list of resources you will find answers to Vistre more morbid curiosity on the subject. Card sorting, scenario partecipatory design, usability testing: every activity has an article that explains exactly what it is and how to pursue it.
A set of resources to help you start off on the right foot in the design of intranets.
December
18
Occasionally there is some enlightened client with which you can apply advanced methodologies (okay, just say methods) to design the intranet.
In this case we had carte blanche on virtually everything, and perhaps a sign of the times we did focus groups, brainstorming and also incredible, well-sixth session of card sorting with employees.
On one side there was me, Christian and someone of the Directorate, and the other from time to time, groups of 3 or 4 employees. In between, a mixed content, described by white cards, which can be brought together and put a name with the yellow cards.
Here's the situation:
Here are some of the results
Needless to say, the results were very interesting and gave us several indications on the design of the intranet pages and labels.
Here are some pointers for those wishing to achieve synthesis of card sorting internally.
1) Two types of groups. Create two groups: those professionally homogeneous and those belonging to different sectors. In the first instance be able to get a fairly accurate mental map of the different groups profesisonali, while the latter can more easily detect the points of friction and ambiguous content.
2) aloud. It 'important to the outcome, but also what is happening during the card sorting. Make express aloud their thought processes in order to reap the mental steps that lead them to make choices deterimnate.
3) Colaboration among participants. It 'important that people, during the card sorting, diascutano together and seek an agreement. Avoid that everyone does his homework individually. The choices of the group are on average more intelligent and interesting.
4) Focus on himself. Sometimes there is a tendency by participants to identify oneself in the shoes of the "connection type". Try to make them work in relation to their specific needs and their particular ideas, ensuring that you put "other side" improvising designers.
5) short duration. Not more than 40-50 minutes
6) Names of the groups. And 'important that people not only bringing together content, but also give them a name. To name a set forcing participants to check the tightness of their choices and to notice inconsistencies or overlaps. Often during the creation of names are also moving consiestenti grouped among the papers.
Well, now you have no more excuses ...
November
28
The latest newsletter by Jacob Nielsen, dedicated to information architecture, intranets , is one of the most affected in recent times.
Obviously the goal is to sell its voluminous report that detailed analysis of 56 intranets in different sectors, but the information he gives is interesting nevertheless. I try to summarize some main points
1) Create whatever architecture is always better to let the intranet will grow as it is
2) Although there are no specialists of IA in the company and the team needs to do more things at once (typical case), using simple methods (questionnaires, card sorting, analysis of navigation), also homemade, can give great results in terms of useful information for building the navigation
3) There is a close relationship between farm size and complexity of architecture
4) Although there is much variability specific enough there are some items common to all, namely
- Human Resources
- Company Information
- News
- Information on the departments
5) The customization tools are little used and complicated. Generally use them only geeks
6) A good practice is to define the navigational cross (or the related links) on each page)
7) And 'better plan based on tasks that the departments (in part because departments vary)
8) Do managers decide the labels of the menu, you risk ending up with label-fashioned but incomprehensible to employees.
I hope to get hold of the report and give you more detailed info.
Hello
needle
8
Here is a set of tools to do a good card sorting .
There is also the excel sheet already set up for entering the data. The problem as I said fraktal is what we do have them, STI blessed card sorting.
needle
5
What is a participatory design workshop? Find out here . The site is a mine of practical advice and methods to conduct and produce usability testing, card sorting, shared planning, check lists. Absolutely to visit (and study).
January
4
The work of Jared spoo is certainly useful for designing interfaces. In one of his recent articles addressed the issue of intranet, based on the concept of " information scent
His research shows that:
Here's the full article , three weeks ago.
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