Coffee and Content: Developing Information Architecture in an Agile Environment
Agile and information architecture don't always play nicely together — but they can. Amber Swope explains how IAs can use backlogs, content stories, and sprint planning to stay ahead of the development team.
Scriptorium Podcast: Understanding Information Architecture
What does information architecture actually mean — and what does an information architect do? Amber Swope unpacks the discipline, including her distinction between management IA and delivery IA, in this conversation with Alan Pringle.
IXIAtalks: Episode 17 - How to Power Up Your Content With Taxonomy
Without taxonomy, content is unfindable — no matter how good it is. Amber Swope explains how to recognize, build, and optimize taxonomy in your organization to power search, navigation, and personalized delivery.
Everyday IA Episode 7: The Information Architecture Checklist
Information architecture documentation can, very quickly, become unweildy. The IA Checklist provides a simple way to quickly track down key decisions and data from the architecture development process.
Everyday IA Episode 6: The Deliverable Structure Diagram
Amber Swope explains how you can use the Deliverable Structure Diagram, a component of the Information Architecture Blueprint™ Toolkit, to define the structure of each deliverable type, capture visual analysis, and convey the structure of information.
Everyday IA Episode 5: The Deliverable Analysis Worksheet
Amber Swope talks about why she created the Deliverable Analysis Worksheet as part of the Information Architecture Blueprint™ Toolkit. Amber explains how you can use it to define the purpose and requirements for each deliverable type.
Everyday IA Episode 4: The Content Deliverable Matrix
Amber explains how to use the content deliverable matrix to analyze where content appears in deliverables, either in multiple deliverables of the same type or in different deliverables that serve the same audience.
Everyday IA Episode 3: Formatting Audit
Amber Swope shares how you can use the Information Architecture Blueprint Toolkit™ templates to perform a formatting audit of your content.
Everyday IA Episode 2: Content Analysis
How to get started with your content analysis using some of the analysis templates in the Information Architecture Blueprint Toolkit™.
Everyday IA Episode 1: The IA Blueprint Toolkit
Amber Swope discusses the Information Architecture Blueprint Toolkit™ and explains why she created it, who can use it, and what makes it a valuable product.
Sharing content across the enterprise
Sharing content across departments sounds simple, but it requires careful architecture. Amber Swope walks through how to define, scope, and manage DITA content collections for cross-team reuse.
Becoming an Information Architect: Episode 2, Part 3
Amber Swope addresses the overarching question: how can you become an IA, and what does it take to get there?
Becoming an Information Architect: Episode 2, Part 2
Amber Swope discusses how to define the role of IA and what kinds of tasks the role of an IA demands.
Becoming an Information Architect: Episode 2, Part 1
How do people actually become information architects? Amber Swope surveyed 35 IAs to find out — and shares what their paths, roles, and day-to-day work really look like in part one of this three-part series.
Using Structured XML to Power your Learning Content
Learning and training content has the same reuse problem as technical documentation — and the same solution. Amber Swope explains how DITA XML gives L&D teams one structured source that powers any delivery platform.
Automate to Stay Up-to-Date: 5 Ways to Maintain Your Training Content
Most learning and training teams can't keep their content up to date — not because they don't try, but because their content architecture makes maintenance harder than it needs to be. Amber Swope shares five ways automation and structured content can fix that.
Optimizing your DITA Content Model for Translation
Translation costs scale directly with the quality of your DITA content model. Amber Swope explains what to fix in your model before sending content for translation — and how structured content can dramatically reduce your localization burden.
DS Podcast Episode 1: Meet DITA Strategies
New to DITA Strategies? This is where to start. Amber Swope introduces the firm, explains what information architecture and DITA can do for your content, and describes who she helps.
DITA XML as a Neutral Content Source for Educational Publishers
Educational publishers can't afford to maintain separate content for every delivery format. Amber Swope explains how DITA XML creates a single neutral source that powers print, digital, and personalized learning — from one place.