1. TAXONOMY DESIGN: All You Need to Know about Taxonomy for Government Web Platforms
Zach Wahl and Tatiana Baquero
Project Performance Corporation (PPC)
November 16, 2010

2. Agenda Methodology for Content Categorization
Key Elements for an Intuitive Taxonomy
Validation and Compliance
Challenges
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Conclusion
Taxonomy Design

3. Methodology for Content Categorization
Taxonomy Workshops – 1st level taxonomy
Focus Groups – 2nd and 3rd levels
Card Sorting and Follow-up – validation
Taxonomy Design

4. Taxonomy Workshops
Convene a diverse group of users (representative of end users)
Focus needs of end users and content owners
Simplify requirements and guidelines to most basic level
Recognize that “better” is “good enough” to start; move forward from there
Set expectations for long-term process
Focus on iterative design and evolutionary improvement
User Focus
Simplification
Iteration
Taxonomy Design

5. Taxonomy Workshops: Recommended Configuration
Schedule – Three days, mix of training and exercises
Audience – Mix of subject matter experts and project owners representing a cross section of key departments/business units:
Human Resources
Sales IT
Mix levels but try to secure time for discussion and new concepts
15-18 attendees maximum
Taxonomy Design

6. Taxonomy Workshop: Primary Goals
Define taxonomy, metadata, and related terms consistently
Set expectations for long and challenging process:
People, by nature, do not agree on concepts, naming, and categorization
We don’t know all user needs (and won’t throughout the process)
Not everything we do will be intuitive to all users
The taxonomy will never be completely finished or completely “right”
Establish overall goals – create a “Starter Taxonomy” and initial metadata strategy to be used as a jumping-off point
Taxonomy Design

7. Taxonomy Workshop: Follow-on Process
Consistently and repeatedly test progress using combination of card sorting exercises, focus groups, and usability surveys
Engage additional end users for validation and guidance
Hold additional workshops to refine and provide greater detail
Utilize focus groups for further validation and naming
Match with analytics, content analysis, and technologies as complexity increases
Taxonomy Design

8. Methodology for Content Categorization
Key Elements for an Intuitive Taxonomy
Validation and Compliance
Challenges
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Conclusion
Taxonomy Design

9. Key Elements for an Intuitive Taxonomy
Engage a good mix of content experts and content users
Use the language that the organization speaks
Ensure usability and simplicity
Pull together disparately located content
Engage internal and external users, if necessary
Taxonomy Design

10. Methodology for Content Categorization
Key Elements for an Intuitive Taxonomy
Validation and Compliance
Challenges
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Conclusion
Taxonomy Design

11. Validation and Compliance: Regulatory
Language should be consistent and compliant with federal and state statues, acts, and regulations
Words should not change the meaning of key information to avoid the risk of lawsuits
Work closely with the rule making team, if a new rule is being developed in relation to the new Web Platform
Taxonomy Design

12. Validation and Compliance: Organizational
Engage each involved organizational area in the use and maintenance of the taxonomy
Request input from each area to ensure a cross-organizational taxonomy
Identify differences in the meaning of words based on professional background, job responsibilities, or hierarchical position
Use web-based card sorting exercises
Taxonomy Design

13. Validation and Compliance: External
Engage the office of public relations for public facing portals
Facilitate external focus groups
Taxonomy Design

14. Validation and Compliance: Analytical (KPIs)
Review management reports at every level of the agency to ensure collection of the desired information
Consider adding a second level taxonomy to allow for both detailed and high-level data analysis
Engage upper management to ensure that the Web Platform will bring the information that the agency needs
Taxonomy Design

15. Validation and Compliance: Technical
Make sure that the tool you select allows for a complete implementation of desired taxonomy and search features
Ensure that metadata fields allow for easy classification and search of information
Provide help text to assist users in making better selections when entering or looking for content
Taxonomy Design

16. Methodology for Content Categorization
Key Elements for an Intuitive Taxonomy
Validation and Compliance
Challenges
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Conclusion
Taxonomy Design

17. Challenges Resistance to Change
Multiple and Endless Validations and Approvals
Updates to the Taxonomy
Old Taxonomies Linked to Legacy Data
External Validation
Taxonomy Design

18. Methodology for Content Categorization
Key Elements for an Intuitive Taxonomy
Validation and Compliance
Challenges
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Conclusion
Taxonomy Design

19. Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Facilitate Cross-Organizational Taxonomy Sessions
Gain Management Support
Communicate the Evolving Nature of Taxonomy
Map New Taxonomies to Legacy Data
Identify All Possible Audiences
Taxonomy Design

20. Thank You! Contact: Tatiana Baquero, +1-703-748-7082, tbaquero@ppc.com
Zach Wahl, ,
 blog.ppc.com
Taxonomy Design