Management Intergration SLP - Assignment Example

Information Architecture (Website Structure) Introduction A website structure provides the foundation for building a well designed and highly usablesite. The structure of a site is the best place to define the navigation schema and construct a solid base which can help in building and maintaining a sustainable website. Commonly used structures for the websites include linear, hierarchical and mesh structures. (Lawson, 2005). In a linear website structure web pages are accessed in a serial fashion one after the other, while the hierarchical structures provide a treelike arrangement for the web pages.

Nagel (2005) observes, “This structure can be described with a hierarchical diagram that displays the information of the website in a top-down structure and gives an insight into the depth of a website.”However, the BSITM website will be designed on the mesh structure where users can move from one web page to another web page without following any sequence. Organizational Metaphors The organizational metaphors is the technique which take the hierarcy of the organization for which the website is being design and apply it into the structure of the website.

The organizational metaphors give us an image of the website where each of the three stakeholders has its own functions grouped together. This will help in searching required functionalities and navigational schemes for the website. At this stage of information architecture, using the organizational metaphors, we can finalize the grouping of various functionalities which BSITM website has to offer in order to meet the requirements of students, instructors and guardians. Moreover this can provide a leverage in designing an elaborate navigational mechanism for these functionalities.

This can be especially very helpful in designing the Home Page of the BSITM Website. Use of metaphors can be very effective as Tetnall (2005) suggests, “The metaphors adopted in designing educational portals should systematically promote lucid and intuitive interfaces.” Functional Metaphors Functional metaphors provide a pictorial description of various tasks and action which are required to be performed by website audience and major stakeholders. Functional metaphors helps to define and design the structure and arrangement of these functions and tasks in a logical order that suits the requirements of user and interest groups defined earlier.

As an example the search function is the most common function which any of the defined user groups may like to find on the BSITM website Home Page. The availability of a search function on the Home Page is more logical and falls in line with the functional metaphors that we may witness at other websites. The study and arrangement of functional tasks at other websites may render a very practical insight into the implementation and arrangement of tasks and functions on BSITM Website. Keeping in view the above discussion it is decided that functions will be groups in respective audience groups so that each group may find the required functions and tasks on its web page readily.

This will not only save time and will avoid frustration of finding required information but will also ensure an enhanced level of usability. Visual Metaphors Visual metaphors are the best source to ensure a visual appeal of the website but this must follow a more familiar pattern which a may evolve with the research of the websites on the same subject. The graphics, images and other objects that have some iconic value must be aligned with the theme and purpose of the BSITM website. Institution monogram at the top of each page will enforce a relation of the user with the institute.

Similarly other objects and visual aids must follow local culture and traditions and should reinforce the theme of intellectual excellence. Students' pictures in library, classrooms and sports activities may be used to arouse well thought out sentiments. Similarly the Home Page with spread out view of the instate building will enhance the majesty of the website. Visual metaphors are not bound within strict image boundaries but they should be viewed and understand as the visual appeal and must impart and esthetic comfort to the website visitor.

Set It in Stone Based on the metaphorical analysis conducted above following Site Structure Listing is prepared for the BSITM website; Home 1 News 1.1 Updates 1.2 Picture Gallery 1.3 Video Gallery 1.4 Student 2 Login 2.1 Personal Profile 2.1.1 Updates 2.1.2 Chat 2.1.3 Assignments 2.1.4 Archieves 2.1.5 Account Info 2.1.6 E-Mail 2.1.7 Instructor 3 Login 3.1 Personal Profile 3.1.1 Updates 3.1.2 Chat 3.1.3 Assignments 3.1.4 Archives 3.1.5 Account Info 3.1.6 Email 3.1.7 Quizzes 3.1.8 BSITM Navigation Web site navigation is a core usability identifier.

BSITM website will use the institute logo as the link to the Home Page and this will be available throughout the website at all the times. Secondly, all major elements of the structure will be placed in the site menu which will be available on the top in horizontal layout. The minor elements will be contained by these menus. This menu will also be available at all page of the website. Works Cited Lawson Jenny. Applied ICT: AS level for AQA UK: Heinemann Publishers, 2005. Print. Nagel Sarah. Analysis of the E-Business-Website of http://www.

furnitureexpressions.co.uk: Structure, design and concept of the website put to test. UK: GRIN Verlag Publishers, 2010. Print. Webmonkey. “Information Architecture Tutorial – Lesson 1”, Webmonkey.com (2012): n. page. Web. 16 December 2012. Tetnall, Arthur. Handbook on Advancements in Smart Antenna Technologies for Wireless Networks, USA: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2007, Print.