INF 2176 Information Management in Organizations:
Models and Platforms

Intranet Design Assignment

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The objective of the assignment is to introduce a systematic approach to designing an intranet as a platform for supporting an organization's information and knowledge management processes.

Students work in groups of four to design and partially implement an intranet with content and applications that address an organization's information and knowledge management needs. Each group will make a 35-minute presentation of their intranet designs. At least one day before their project presentation date, each team should post a copy of their Intranet web pages and presentation to the course wiki in their group project pages.

Students identify and approach a suitable organization to work with. Possible organizations may include:

• an organization that is considering or implementing an intranet
• an organization that is redesigning an existing intranet
• a library in the U of T system or its affiliates
• FI Students Services
• FI Student Council.

The project presentation should include the following:

1 Information Ecology
1.1 Describe the organization's mission and operating context, and how an intranet would help the organization achieve its goals

2 Information Behaviors
2.1 Identify sets of major users and their information preferences
2.2 Analyze their main work-related tasks and problems, including problem dimensions, information needs
2.3 Analyze their information behaviors in terms of information seeking modes, information sources, and information use outcomes

3 Functional Design
3.1 Design an intranet site map, indicating the main pages and the content and applications accessible on those pages
3.2 Design the entry page
3.3 Partially implement and demonstrate a functional feature that supports sensemaking, knowledge creation/sharing, or decision making
3.4 Partially implement and demonstrate a functional feature that supports content access, communication, or collaboration
3.5 Explain how the functional features you have implemented add value by addressing information ecology or information behavior issues.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The intranet design will be evaluated according to the extent that they achieve the following objectives:

1. Intranet site structure is logical, clear, and well aligned with the information environment of the organization
2. Page designs facilitate information access and navigation
3. Functional features or applications effectively support major sets of users, their information tasks and behaviors
4. Functional features or applications effectively support sensemaking, knowledge creation, or decision making.

The project presentation dates are on the course wiki. Students should inform the instructor of their choice of client organization before commencing their projects.

If you wish, you may use the Intranet Design Project Workbook to plan your project. Students may find it helpful to review the design framework presented in class, and read the book excerpt. There is no need to submit a completed design workbook.

Each team should submit a one-page report identifying the main contributions of each team member in the project assignment.

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