You’re managing a project with a diverse team in Information Architecture. What are the best ways to do it?

Information architecture (IA) is the practice of designing and organizing information in a way that makes it easy to understand and use. IA projects often involve complex and diverse content, users, and stakeholders, requiring effective team management skills. In this article, you will learn some of the best ways to manage a project with a diverse team in IA.

1 Define the scope and goals

The first step in any IA project is to define the scope and goals of the project. This means clarifying what information you need to organize, who will use it, and what outcomes you want to achieve. You should also establish the roles and responsibilities of each team member, the timeline and budget of the project, and the methods and tools you will use. Having a clear and shared vision of the project will help you align your team and avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.

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Nate Parsons

Technical Advisor, Business Coach, and fractional CTO/IO.
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Every IA team will be confronted by stakeholders and situations where they are asked to include "more" into their design. This can range from each department wanting part of a website homepage, to the lawyers wanting to make sure all the right disclosures exist in mobile app, to product teams wanting to check a bunch of competitive feature boxes. This means that every team needs not just a scope and goals, but a prioritization framework to help decide and defend design choices. IA teams know that too many choices is as bad a design as no choices for end users, and the IA team should start on day one with a strategy for ensuring they can have as clean and effective final design as possible.

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César Augusto Ortiz Barrera

MSc. Gestión de Información
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Como en todo proyecto de arquitectura es clave definir la situación actual (AS-IS) y el punto de llegada (TO-BE) con el adecuado nivel de detalle que permita establecer un objetivo y alcance que pueda ser depurado y ajustado a los recursos disponibles estimados así mismo es importante considerar los objetivos del proceso de gestión del conocimiento.

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2 Communicate effectively

Communication is key to managing a diverse team in IA. You should communicate regularly and openly with your team, using different channels and formats, such as emails, meetings, reports, presentations, and feedback sessions. You should also listen actively and respectfully to your team members, acknowledging their ideas, concerns, and contributions. Communication should be clear, concise, and consistent, avoiding jargon and ambiguity. You should also adapt your communication style and tone to the different backgrounds, cultures, and preferences of your team members.

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Raymond S.

Information Management Versatilist | Digitalization x Data Catalyst | Design Thinking | Systems Thinker | MBA | Lean | Authentic+
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Understand the diversity, build common values organically, freeze the teams values and communicate, communicate and over communicate!!

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Ajay Mohan

Project Information Manager - Corporate | Lifecycle Information Management | CFIHOS Member | Engineering Design Systems Management | Digital Delivery & Transformation | Oil & Gas, Nuclear
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Communication within the team as well as other stakeholders who will be the end users is the key for successful execution of an IA project. Ideas and innovation from the team is the fuel and for this, a proper environment should be created which is more open for effective communication. Acceptance of right ideas and executing it is equally important as this creates a positive drive for more innovative ideas.

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Ajay Jain

Head of Software Engineering | technology leadership | engineering products to scale | Saas | eLearning
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Communication styles that are adapted to the team make sure that no one feels 'left out' and become an incentive to contribute towards the common goal.

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3 Collaborate creatively

Collaboration is essential to creating a successful IA project. You should involve your team in every stage of the project, from research and analysis, to design and testing, to evaluation and iteration. You should encourage your team to share their knowledge, skills, and perspectives, and to brainstorm and co-create solutions. You should also foster a culture of trust, respect, and support among your team members, giving them autonomy and recognition. Collaboration should be fun, engaging, and productive, using different techniques and tools, such as workshops, sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and user testing.

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4 Manage challenges and risks

Managing a diverse team in IA can also bring some challenges and risks, such as conflicts, delays, errors, or changes. You should anticipate and plan for these scenarios, identifying the potential sources and impacts of them, and developing contingency plans and mitigation strategies. You should also monitor and evaluate the progress and performance of your team and the project, using different metrics and indicators, such as quality, usability, satisfaction, and efficiency. You should also address any issues or problems promptly and proactively, involving your team in finding solutions and learning from mistakes.

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Nate Parsons

Technical Advisor, Business Coach, and fractional CTO/IO.
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The best design ideas, and full understanding of how to solve problems are usually discovered iteratively throughout the design process, not after the first draft of the IA is done. This means that effective risk management needs to include a proactive and intentional change management and versioning process for IA Ensuring good ideas are added to your artifacts, documented, and that everyone knows what the "build" version of docs is key. Changes to IA docs can have MASSIVE cost implications for development as well, so the version control process needs to highlight changes and include an "practical approach adaptation" phase where technical experts can help massage IA designs to fit technical limitations.

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5 Celebrate successes and learnings

The final step in managing a diverse team in IA is to celebrate the successes and learnings of the project. You should acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and achievements of your team, highlighting the positive outcomes and impacts of the project. You should also reflect and learn from the challenges and failures of the project, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your team and the project, and the areas for improvement and growth. You should also share your findings and recommendations with your team and other stakeholders, and solicit feedback and suggestions for future projects.

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6 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 managing a project with a diverse team in Information Architecture. What are the best ways to do it?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define the scope and goals

2 Communicate effectively

3 Collaborate creatively

4 Manage challenges and risks

5 Celebrate successes and learnings

6 Here’s what else to consider

Information Architecture

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You’re managing a project with a diverse team in Information Architecture. What are the best ways to do it?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Define the scope and goals

2 Communicate effectively

3 Collaborate creatively

4 Manage challenges and risks

5 Celebrate successes and learnings

6 Here’s what else to consider

Information Architecture

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