Spread it, Split it & Stack it - 3 Methods for Qualifying Content. This the presentation I gave at the 2010 Big Design Conference In Dallas

1. Ever find yourself staring at a blank sheet of paper?

3. Whatis the source of the stuff?

4. How should it be organized?

8. Organizationally

9. Discipline or Skill set

10. Posting Date

12. Content Management System

13. Content Manager Role

16. Texas Instruments

17. Dr Pepper

19. Information Architect

20. Consultant

21. Speaker/Lecturer

23. Method #3: Spread it Card Sorting

24. Method #3: Spread it “Card sorting is a great, reliable, inexpensive method for finding patterns in how users would expect to find content or functionality.” - Donna Spencer This is Donna. She literally wrote the book on Card Sorting(Rosenfeld Media – 2009)

25. Method #3: Spread it Software Manual

26. Method #3: Spread it Closed Sort Open Sort What would you call this group? This group is called _______ What items would go in this group?

27. Method #3: Spread it Once upon a time…

29. Not relevant to all users

31. Method #3: Spread it Card Names & Descriptions

32. Method #3: Spread it Card Sort UI

33. Method #3: Spread it Card Names & Descriptions

34. Method #3: Spread it Drag

35. Method #3: Spread it Drop

36. Method #3: Spread it Repeat

37. Method #3: Spread it Label Repeat that bit too

38. Method #3: Spread it Comment If you must

39. Method #3: Spread it The Data

40. Method #3: Spread it Trend Cloud Essentially the same 2 Collective trend 3 Close variations 1 Most used 3

41. Method #3: Spread it Wireframe II

42. Method #3: Spread it Final Development This not so much This I need often

43. Split it Context Targeting

44. Method #2: Split it Cool Feature! Goal How closely does this feature support the goal?

45. Method #2: Split it First level validation of user goal upon arrival to the site Directly supports one of the primary user goals - strategic placement Indirectly supports primary user goals - Peripheral Required Corollary Does not directly or indirectly support primary user goals - Least emphasis Ancillary Extraneous

46. Method #2: Split it Required Corollary Ancillary Extraneous

47. Method #2: Split it Outcomes Required (1) Establish User-centered hierarchy of existing page elements Corollary (2) New Ancillary Establish User-centered criteria for characterizing future page elements Ancillary (3) Gain basis for determining elements that might be placed further down the path to better use real-estate on page Extraneous (4)

48. Stack it Faceted Feature Analysis

50. Field Inquiry

51. Brainstorm

52. Competitive Analysis

53. User Stories

55. Method #1: Stack it Rate the list: 3Criteria Business Value What is the importance of this feature to the business goals of the project. Making/Saving money

56. Method #1: Stack it Ratethe list:3Criteria Technical Ease of Implementation What is the feasibility of the development of each feature. This can take in sophistication, amount of work or discovery.

57. Method #1: Stack it Ratethe list:3Criteria User Value How does this feature contribute to the goals of the user both internal and external.

58. Method #1: Stack it Ratings from 1 to 5 5 being highest Ratethe list:3Criteria

59. Method #1: Stack it Most Flexibility Least Flexibility x3 x2 x1 CreateaFlexibility Matrix

60. Method #1: Stack it Multiply the values in each column by their weight from the matrix x1 x2 x3 Mapthe matrix to the criteria Sort on the weighted scores 28 12 22 24

61. Method #1: Stack it Scorethe list Effort can be mapped directly to Cost or Time

62. Method #1: Stack it Sort the list Complete Solution Natural Cut-off Point Alternative features, later phase or discards

63. Method #1: Stack it Fine tune the list Up for Negotiation

64. Method #1: Stack it So…What do you get? Objectivity Using over-riding, agreed-upon constraints as the means of emphasis rather than personal influence.

65. Method #1: Stack it But wait! There’s more! Project Planning Scope and estimates provide the basis for a project plan

66. Method #1: Stack it But wait! There’s more! Mitigates Churn Reduces down-stream, second-guessing. There are fewer surprises.

67. Method #1: Stack it But wait! There’s more! Politics Features rise or drop in the list on their own merit not because anyone knocked it down or ram-rodded it to the top.

69. Business: Drive revenueBoss’s suggestion doesn’t support goals Can’t call boss stupid

70. Stack-it Content hierarchy Split-it Match content to goals Spread-it Expectations for content

71. Q A &