Category: Information Architecture

New information architecture for international publisher

Posted by on in Information Architecture

New framework designed to effectively manage and leverage content

Metataxis is thrilled to welcome Thomas Telford publishers as its latest customer.

Thomas Telford is the knowledge business and publishing arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), responsible for creating specialist products and services for the civil engineering and construction markets, including the bestselling NEC® suite of contracts and guides.

Metataxis will be developing an information architecture to support their publishing assets.

Structuring and classifying information with an information architecture framework will make it easier for users to access data and leverage the information’s full value.

Marc Stephenson, Director at Metataxis comments: “We’re delighted to be working with the Thomas Telford team, supporting this publisher with the design and implementation of a new information architecture framework for their publishing assets. This will enable them to exploit and manage their content with maximum efficiency and flexibility.”

Learn more about our information architecture services or simply contact us to discuss how we can help your organisation today.

Delivering document management success

Posted by on in Information Architecture, Microsoft 365

New information architecture and compliance frameworks

Metataxis is pleased to continue to support yet another public sector organisation with their document management and Microsoft 365 implementation.

Over the past 12 months, we have been working closely with this government agency to deliver information architecture and compliance frameworks to underpin their Microsoft 365 solution for document management.

Structuring information architecture will make it easier for users to identify connections and patterns in their data. Armed with these valuable insights into their organisation, the team will be able to leverage the information to improve decision making.

After successfully introducing these new frameworks for this executive non-departmental public body, we are now providing services to design and implement the SharePoint structure and metadata necessary for the effective rollout of SharePoint, as well as managing the migration of all their content from their network drives to the Microsoft cloud.

The value of information management for Microsoft 365

Metataxis are experts in designing and delivering information management frameworks for Microsoft 365. We understand the value and importance of a well-structured, clear information architecture to support both private companies and public sector bodies effectively manage data security and meet all regulations.

Find out more about our information architecture services or simply contact us to discuss how we can help your organisation today.

To AI or IA ?

Posted by on in Information Architecture

Do Artificial Intelligence tools need an Information Architecture?

In his latest blog, Marc Stephenson, Director at Metataxis, takes a look at the AI hype.

We know that the world has gone mad about Artificial Intelligence, or AI, ChatGTP and many other systems.

According to Wikipedia: “By January 2023, it had become the fastest-growing consumer software application in history, gaining over 100 million users”. That’s impressive!

Not a day goes by when I don’t read an article telling me that AI will either cause the apocalypse or solve all human problems. Of course, the reality will probably much less exciting. Don’t get me wrong – these AI tools are very impressive. I studied AI in the 1990’s as part of my MSc, and back then we were “only a few years from a sentient AI”. That was a somewhat optimistic prediction, but it’s clear that ChatGPT for example, is very good at solving some kind of problems (for me, one of the things ChatGPT does very well is write clear, grammatically correct English).

Another kind of hype

The AI hype is very similar to the search engine hype from the noughties. Back then, Google would remove all need for Information Architecture (IA) and Information Management (IM). We’d just use search for everything, right? Er no. Human information and knowledge is bit more complex and nuanced than that.

Who remembers the “Google Search Appliance” hardware? Just plug it into your server room and job done. No need for this difficult information architecture malarky.

Again, er, no. The issue is that a tool’s result is only as good as the person who uses the tool and the context in which they use it. In other words – the creation of the data model, training set, user interface, and the many surrounding processes, procedures, controls and governance measures, are actually very important.

Google Search Appliance

And as for dealing with bias, now that’s a whole blog in itself. What I’m saying is that if AI tools are to revolutionise how we use information, they will need an IA.

Well, for a while yet they will…

Of course, if you have any questions about information architecture, simply contact us.

Information Architecture framework supports Microsoft 365 implementation

Posted by on in Information Architecture, Information Governance, Uncategorized

19 May 23 – New information architecture framework and information governance framework for UK constabulary.

Metataxis is delighted to have delivered a comprehensive information architecture framework along with an information governance framework to ensure the successful roll out of Microsoft 365 for a large UK police force.

Having adopted Microsoft Teams during the pandemic to boost collaboration, this public sector organisation needed a clear Microsoft 365 governance and resourcing model to ensure the new platform is used appropriately and remains compliant.

The information architecture framework clearly presents the best ways to structure and manage information stored in Microsoft 365 applications across the organisation, including Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive. We have also provided a set of clear recommendations and parameters for a successful information governance implementation, by defining roles and responsibilities within the organisation and looking at how the force managed compliance using Microsoft Purview.

Armed with these well-defined, compliant, information architecture and information governance frameworks, the police constabulary now has a solid base to start building their architecture and confidently kick start their Microsoft 365 journey.

Noeleen Schenk, Director at Metataxis concludes: “Bound by strict data compliance regulations and governance rules, many public sector organisations are challenged with meeting their information management requirements. With these new information architecture and information Governance frameworks, the force is now well placed to commence the successful implementation of their Microsoft 365 project, confident all governance and compliance regulations are met.”

The value of information management for Microsoft 365

Metataxis are experts in designing and delivering information management frameworks for Microsoft 365. We understand the value and importance of a well-structured, clear information architecture to support both private companies and public sector bodies effectively manage data security and meet all regulations.

Read more about our information architecture and information governance services or simply contact us to discuss how we can help your organisation today.

Information Architecture – a balancing act

Posted by on in Information Architecture

The information architecture conundrum

In his latest blog, Alex Church, Senior Consultant at Metataxis, discusses the balancing act involved in developing an effective information architecture that appeals to all stakeholders within an organisation.

The optimal benefits of an information architecture

When developing an information architecture for our clients, we try to live by our definition of ‘a way of organising all your information for most benefit’.

However, this raises the question of ‘most benefit’ for whom and for what purpose?

This is where the balancing act comes in, as we may have to, for example, consider two of the objectives that the information architecture will support: Findability and compliance.

  • Findability – structure and navigation; filtering and grouping; search, etc
  • Compliance – retention; information protection; access control, etc

Information architecture from a compliance perspective

In this case, taking a compliance perspective puts a very different spin on how you organise your information in contrast to how a user regards their information.

Organising information in a way that makes your records manager’s life easier isn’t always going to do the same for those who work with the information on a day-to-day basis.

Information architecture balance

From our experience, you’ll soon be getting complaints from users if compliance is the driving force behind your information architecture.

However, compliance is clearly important, so we do need to factor it in, but in a way that does not impinge on people’s ability to work in an effective and efficient manner. There is likely to be some compromise on both sides, so engagement with stakeholders across the organisation is key both in understanding user requirements and getting acceptance of the end result.

The art of information architecture

Finding the right balance between these competing needs is where the art of information architecture comes in.

In SharePoint and Microsoft 365 we would, for example, look at what level we create the sites, how we use libraries, content types, columns as well as metadata in order to efficiently organise and categorise information.

With regards to records management, we would need to consider how we create retention labels and policies in Purview and how we can align their implementation to the information architecture. Questions to consider could include: “can we apply default retention labels to libraries?” and “how can we use metadata to trigger retention?” and if we need to flex it to accommodate our compliance requirements.

Identifying the priorities

As seasoned information architects here at Metataxis, we use our experience in engaging with stakeholders, weighing up the competing priorities, and using the different information architecture elements at our disposal to satisfy both requirements.

If you’re looking to address the balance of your information architecture, simply contact us today.