Information Architecture = Better Business Intelligence

Business processes collect loads of data. If you identify, organize, and structure that data appropriately, you can pull together related information to gain meaningful insights into your business. This is the role of your information architecture: converting your data into valuable business intelligence.

A strong information architecture is designed to make your business process data accessible and usable. There are four keys to creating an effective information architecture:

1. Know your business processes: Document all business processes, including the data that is produced from them.

2. Know your technology solutions model: Identify all of the technology platforms used to manage the business processes.

3. Define the data model: Understand how the data maps together from the business processes and the technology solutions.

4. Define data governance: Establish an authoritative “single version of the truth” and processes to ensure the integrity, security, privacy, and appropriate use of the data.

Your business processes are already producing valuable data. Creating and maintaining an effective information architecture will make that data findable and usable, giving you the insights you need to make the most informed business decisions.