Information technology systems
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Overview
Many digital projects start with technology. The following topics may often result in a technology-first approach:
- Search improvements
- Information management
- New initiative or innovation project
This often leads to new hubs, portals, new content management systems that have all been implemented as solutions before first really identifying the root cause of the problem (hint: this cause is often content itself as well as the organizational culture which created it).
How this affects IA
Generally, the technology-first approach that deals with content-related problems doesn't fix the true problem and creates more systemic damage which gets compounded overtime.
In design thinking terms we talk about needing to really unpack the problem or define it, before jumping into either partial or completely incorrect solutions.
From an IA perspective, we always need to be able to see a problem from a macro and a micro level as well as all the possible angles and perspectives, both the forest and the trees from high up, close to the ground and different sides. This is where content strategy can be very helpful.
Take aways
Technology can certainly improve and enhance user experience, but only when it's paired with good initial discovery phase where the broader context of the whole organization or government at large is considered, before making costly decisions and assumptions about the needs of a small group of users. Then, appropriate amount of time needs to be set aside to properly research, plan and structure the information systems.
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