Blog #7 Organization Structures

Organization Structures

1. The hierarchy: A top down approach
This type of organization is logical, simple and familiar. It consists of mutually exclusives subdivisions and parent-child relationships. This is not that dissimilar to the way books are organized into chapters or paragraph in a paper. This organization helps people to feel comfortable due to the familiarity of the format.

Hypertext:
This system is a relatively new and highly nonlinear in terms of organizing and structuring information. Items are often linked and connect text, data, images, video, and audio “chunks.” The complexity of this user design can lead to confusion on the part of the consumer, but with good design this confusion often can be avoided. This style allows for creative connections between items and areas, but can walk the lines of ambiguity unless carful design is implemented.

The relational database model: A bottom-up approach
This organizational strategy is often seen in databases such as record collections and addresses (Name, street address, city, state, zip code). This feature can save time and help to organize information from a bottom-up approach. This system allows you to call upon information in multiple forms, such as returning to main pages by “back-clicking.”

Designing Databases:
Often designed in a bottom-up manner, often gives the feeling of consistency and familiarity. The use of controlled vocabulary contributes to this especially in the task of searching and browsing. However, this can be an issue when a vocab. word is chosen that divides categories into to broad of categories but is selected well the vocab. words can help a viewer navigate through a site or record of information. A standard format for all links or HTML tags is also important in this element.

5. Organize the site content into taxonomies and hierarchies of information: it is always to have the most broad topic to start the search for more specific information, Ex: “Information” tab --> “contact” tab --> email and phone numbers

6. Communicate conceptual overviews and the overall site organization to the design team and clients: It is important for a site to be navigational and useful to the user. The eye is looking for some general format, usually it is a good idea to take this into account and design accordingly.

7. Research and design the core site navigation concepts: Make sure it is clear what the site is so that people don’t become confused and steer away from it. The beginning content is very important to grabbing a users attention.