Natural Resources Canada

Science and Technology Information Architecture

Challenge: Under the auspices of the Roadmap to a Coherent Service Presence for the Government of Canada, Systemscope was contracted to work with two formed GOL cluster sites — Science.gc.ca and Innovation.gc.ca — as well as with DFAIT’s International S&T Program, to identify an information architecture that could support the government’s broad science and technology interests, activities and clients groups, while enabling consolidation of existing clusters and portals.

Approach: A variety of research methods were used to inform the development of the information architecture, including consultations with science-based departments and agencies, comparative analysis with other science Web sites (both public and private sector), and client journeys.

Client journeys reflect an understanding of the motivations and tasks/goals of users, and can be applied as a research methodology (identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement in existing offerings), a design methodology (for architecting client-centric solutions) and a strategic methodology (for defining client-centric service strategies). In this case, client journeys were used to identify and illustrate client experience issues related to horizontal information-seeking within the Government of Canada’s science sites and services.

Outcome: The information architecture that resulted from this research was presented in July 2006 to the ADM Committee on Science & Technology. The Committee endorsed further work, including broader consultations and the development of a prototype illustrating the new architecture.