IA + Governance
Information architecture, governance approaches, and adoption resources
Information Architecture is how we know how to find things, place, and secure data. Governance is about keeping things organised. IA design needs to combine intuition and explicit enforcement for a successful SharePoint/Microsoft 365 deployment.
Official resources
- Microsoft Learn structured learning paths.
- Microsoft Adoption Centre comms resources to help communicate change.
- Adoption Centre assets for SharePoint (Web Archive) Super useful stuff.
- SharePoint: IA guidance (examples)
- SharePoint: IA examples
- SharePoint: AIIM guide for IM
- Look for well-reviewed books
Key considerations
- M365: Governance / Maturity model
- M365: Manage group creation
- SP: Governance overview
- SP: Brand center
- SP: Hub sites, site topology
- SP: Taxonomy / term store
- SP: Plan service limits + list limits
Tools
- MS 365 Developer Program - a free MS 365 test environment
- Microsoft solution provider directory
- ShareGate - for teams / M365 governance
- Syskit
- Rencore
- AvePoint
- Sprocket 365 Policy hub - for intranet training compliance and engagement tracking (N.B. I helped make this)
- Microsoft Clarity + Clarity for SharePoint - for user studies (n.b. ensure compliance with privacy policies/regulations)
- UX tweak card sorting tool
- Figma + SP Web UI Kit
- Theme designer + Add-PnPTenantTheme + Coolors - color scheme generator
Community resources
- Design Systems Repo
- Strategyzer: High impact tools for teams
- Laws of UX
- UI Patterns
- A List Apart - Everyday information architecture
- Smashing Magazine
- Refactoring UI
- GoodUI
- Abbey Convert
- The Manual (old but timeless)
- Generic guidance for comms teams: Web Style Guide, Microsoft Writing Style Guide
- Gov’t style guides: AU (+ ATSI), CA, UK (+ Home office), US, NZ, OECD, EU global list – check local!
See communities for more blogs, feeds, etc.