You're leading a project with a large scope in Information Architecture. How do you ensure it stays on track?

1 Define the problem and the solution

Before you dive into the details of your IA project, you need to have a clear understanding of the problem you're trying to solve and the solution you're proposing. This will help you align your team, your client, and your users on the same vision and objectives. To define the problem and the solution, you can use tools such as problem statements, value propositions, user personas, and user journeys. These tools will help you articulate the needs, goals, and pain points of your users, as well as the benefits and features of your solution.

3 Establish a communication strategy

Communication is key for any project, but especially for a large-scale IA project that involves multiple stakeholders, such as designers, developers, content writers, testers, and users. A communication strategy will help you define how, when, and with whom you will communicate throughout your IA project, as well as the tools and channels you will use. A communication strategy will help you keep everyone informed, engaged, and aligned on the project status, progress, and feedback. You can use tools such as project briefs, status reports, meetings, emails, and collaboration platforms to establish your communication strategy.

4 Implement a design process

A design process is a systematic and iterative approach to creating and testing your IA solution. A design process will help you ensure the quality and usability of your IA solution, as well as incorporate the feedback and input of your users and stakeholders. A design process typically consists of four phases: research, ideation, prototyping, and testing. In each phase, you will use different tools and techniques to gather data, generate ideas, create mockups, and evaluate your solution. Some examples of tools and techniques are user interviews, surveys, card sorting, brainstorming, wireframes, sitemaps, usability testing, and analytics.

5 Monitor and control the project

The last step to ensure your IA project stays on track is to monitor and control the project performance and outcomes. This means measuring and comparing the actual results of your IA project against the planned results, and taking corrective actions if needed. Monitoring and controlling the project will help you identify and manage any risks, issues, changes, or deviations that may arise during your IA project, as well as ensure the satisfaction and acceptance of your clients and users. You can use tools such as dashboards, metrics, feedback forms, and quality audits to monitor and control your project.

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?