Last updated on Jul 10, 2024

You're facing conflicting opinions on IA changes. How do you determine the best path forward?

When you're in the thick of a debate about Information Architecture (IA) changes, the path forward can seem like a maze with no exit. IA, the structural design of shared information environments, is crucial for ensuring that users can navigate and find information efficiently. Amidst conflicting opinions, your challenge is to sift through the noise and make decisions that best serve your users and align with your organization's goals. It's a balancing act between user needs, business objectives, and technological constraints, but with a clear process, you can navigate these waters and steer your IA changes in the right direction.

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1 Assess Needs

Begin by thoroughly assessing the needs of your users. This involves gathering user feedback through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to understand their pain points and preferences. Consider creating personas to represent your user base and map out user journeys to visualize how different users interact with your system. This exercise will help you prioritize changes based on actual user needs rather than subjective opinions, ensuring that any IA modifications enhance the user experience.

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Cleyton Costa

Product Manager | Release Manager | SFPC| CSPO| Agile Master | DSPC
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Já iniciamos com preconceito o uso de IA's generativas. O que vale lembrar é que quem faz as perguntas somos nós! E quem deve avaliar as respostas também, verificando a confiabilidade dessa resposta. Na experiência atual de trabalho, já foi quebrado o paradigma do uso das IA's generativas, e usamos no dia a dia para ajudar na resolução de diversos problemas. Como composição de campanhas de marketing, mapear fluxo de processos, e mesmo a Jornada de usuário, sempre com apoio humano para avaliar cada resposta dada, isso é uma premissa básica e política necessária para manter a qualidade e valor das entregas. Com uma política editorial e de desenvolvimento definida, deve ser explicita ao cliente a forma de geração dos conteúdos e soluções.

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2 Stakeholder Buy-In

Next, secure stakeholder buy-in. Your stakeholders have a vested interest in the IA, and their support is critical for successful implementation. Present data-driven arguments that demonstrate how proposed changes will meet business objectives and improve user satisfaction. Facilitate workshops or meetings where stakeholders can voice concerns and contribute ideas. This collaborative approach not only builds consensus but also ensures that the resulting IA changes are well-rounded and effective.

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Cleyton Costa

Product Manager | Release Manager | SFPC| CSPO| Agile Master | DSPC
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Com algumas etapas é possível tomar decisões mais consistentes e obter a adesão necessária para o sucesso das mudanças em IA. Como por exemplo, garantir que a liderança esteja comprometida e apoie as mudanças, demonstrando sua importância para a organização. Implementando projetos piloto POCs para avaliar o impacto das mudanças em um ambiente controlado antes da implementação completa. E claro total transparência com o cliente mostrando todos os passos na aderência e eficácia no uso da tecnologia proposta.

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3 Evaluate Impact

Evaluating the potential impact of each IA change is essential. Consider the ripple effects that a modification could have on the overall system. How will changes to navigation structures or categorization schemes affect existing content and user workflows? Use wireframes or prototypes to simulate the proposed changes and conduct impact analysis sessions with your team to identify any unintended consequences and ensure that the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks.

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Cleyton Costa

Product Manager | Release Manager | SFPC| CSPO| Agile Master | DSPC
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Inicialmente é importante documentar. Documente todas as descobertas e compartilhe as informações com as partes interessadas para garantir uma compreensão clara dos impactos e das medidas tomadas. Outra boa dica para avaliar os impactos é realizar testes em ambientes controlados para observar os impactos reais das mudanças. Use os resultados para ajustar e melhorar a implementação. Muito importante e se possível antes de tudo, consulte as partes interessadas para obter suas perspectivas sobre o impacto das mudanças. Suas experiências e conhecimentos podem fornecer ideias muito boas.

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4 Prioritize Changes

With all the information in hand, it's time to prioritize changes. Not all opinions or suggestions can be acted upon, so you need to weigh the urgency and importance of each. Use a scoring system to rank each proposed change based on factors like user benefit, cost, time to implement, and alignment with strategic goals. This methodical approach helps ensure that the most impactful changes are addressed first, providing a clear roadmap for your IA updates.

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5 Test Iteratively

Testing iteratively is a cornerstone of making informed IA decisions. Before rolling out large-scale changes, test smaller iterations with a subset of users. This allows you to gather feedback early and make adjustments as needed. A/B testing, where you compare two versions of a page or element, can be particularly effective in determining which changes improve user experience. By testing iteratively, you minimize risk and increase the likelihood that your final IA changes will be successful.

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6 Reflect and Adapt

Finally, reflect on the process and adapt as necessary. IA is not static; it evolves as user behaviors and technologies change. After implementing changes, continue to monitor user feedback and site metrics to assess the effectiveness of your IA modifications. Be prepared to make further adjustments based on this ongoing analysis. Continuous reflection and adaptation ensure that your IA remains effective and responsive to user needs over time.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You're facing conflicting opinions on IA changes. How do you determine the best path forward?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Needs

2 Stakeholder Buy-In

3 Evaluate Impact

4 Prioritize Changes

5 Test Iteratively

6 Reflect and Adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Information Architecture

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You're facing conflicting opinions on IA changes. How do you determine the best path forward?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Needs

2 Stakeholder Buy-In

3 Evaluate Impact

4 Prioritize Changes

5 Test Iteratively

6 Reflect and Adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Information Architecture

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