Author Description

This is book two in the infoOut series. In it, I attempt to reestablish the discipline of information architecture from an information perspective. I present the case for why the job of the information architect is central to the construction of any information system and how that job, in turn, requires very particular skills and an attitude distinct from that of any other member of an information systems team. Information is a wonderful lens with which to view the entirety of what goes on in an information system. That's why I want to look at information systems from the info out. I don't mean that seeing information systems from other perspectives (for example as technological or social systems) is not interesting or important. But in this series, I "stand" on the information and look at all other aspects of the system from that point of view.Information systems pervade every walk of life. From entertainment to education, corner groceries to corporations, information is served to us by systems. Creators of these information systems always pay attention to technology. In more modern systems, creators also pay attention to people, the users and the organizations, behind their systems.Strangely, however, few creators focus on the information behind their systems. Why? Clearly, it is not that creators do not consider information important. This is the information age after all. Information is called the "lifeblood" of our organizations, our most strategic asset. Information is power, and the systems are even named "information" systems.Information is overlooked, not because creators don't care, but because they do not know how to take information seriously. They can only see it as simple data. There are legions of professionals who know very well how to take technology seriously. There is a growing and powerful group of professionals who know how to take people seriously. But where are our professionals who know how to take information seriously? Who assures the syste