Sydney Knowledge Management Forum

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Sydney Knowledge Management Forum
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• Derek Jardine
• Managing Director
• Information Solutions
• Derek_at_informationsolutions.com.au

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User-centred taxonomies
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• What is a taxonomy?
• Making it user-centred.
• Methodology
• Sample projects
• Discussion

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A taxonomy aspires to be..
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• a correlation of the different languages used
  by the enterprise
• a support mechanism for navigating around, and
  gaining access to the intellectual capital of an
  enterprise
• a combination of tools such as portal navigation
  aids, support for search engines, knowledge maps,
  as well as an authority for tagging documents and
  other information objects
• a knowledge base in its own right.

(TPLF)
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Example taxonomy - familiar?
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Home gt Business and Economy gt
Companies gt Arts HumanitiesLiterature,
Photography...Business EconomyCompanies,
Finance, Jobs...Computers InternetInternet,
WWW, Software ...EducationCollege and
University,...EntertainmentCool Links, Movies,
Business Libraries Business Opportunities Busines
s Schools Chats and Forums Classifieds Companies C
onsortia Conventions Cooperatives Education
Advertising_at_ Aerospace_at_ Agriculture_at_
Anthropology _at_ Apparel_at_ Architecture_at_
Automotive_at_ Aviation_at_ Biomedical_at_ Chemicals_at_
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Benefits of a taxonomy
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• Consistent naming schemes means people can they
  find relevant material more quickly.
• The content author is provided with a consistent
  and up to date vocabulary with which to name and
  describe content
• When synonyms are held in the taxonomy, people
  find assets even when they use different
  terminology.

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Benefits2
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• The taxonomy provides a map of the information
  available,and in itself reveals important
  information about how the organisation sees
  itself
• Imprecise user search requests can be clarified
• Taxonomies make search engines and portals work.

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Context and content
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Determine how the target audience use information
Analyse the content
Identify corporate strategyand core business
processes
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A possible methodology
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• Identify business need stakeholder interviews
• Research existing classifications, legislation,
  standards, content inventory
• Analysis of context strategy, goals,
  aspirations, tasks, business process, key
  decision points, business benefit
• Identify opportunities to provide multi-faceted
  categorisation and integrate with a metadata
  model
• Develop high level classification
• Review, test, iterate, and sign-off
• Develop and sign-off

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IAG knowledge base taxonomy
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• Product
• Glossary
• Definitions
• Procedures
• Lifecycle focus
• Customer questions
• Features and benefits
• Customer procedures

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An example Agreed value
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What is Agreed Value?
How do I calculate Agreed Value?
What are the benefits of Agreed Value?
My Agreed value has dropped, why hasnt my
premium?
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An example Agreed value
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User focus Classification
What is Agreed Value?
Glossary
How do I calculate Agreed Value?
Procedure/Task
What are the benefits of an Agreed Value option?
Features Benefits
My Agreed value has dropped, why hasnt my
premium?
Customer question
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Epicurious
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In summary the purpose of a taxonomy
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• Articulate strategic focus
• Support task completion and decision making
• Facilitate the creation of quality navigation
• Arrange content efficiently
• Help provide context.

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Discussion
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• Automated and semi-automated categorisation
  models
• Taxonomies within the context of information
  architecture
• Taxonomies incorporated into metadata models
  AGLS, Dublin Core