Enterprise Taxonomy

YMCA of the USA (YUSA) is the headquarters and national resource office for approximately 2600 independently owned and operated YMCAs throughout the United States and programs in more than 124 countries.

The Challenge
YUSA wanted to standardize the way information is classified and organized, to help facilitate knowledge sharing and document management in the headquarters and throughout the YMCA movement. YUSA also wanted to use the new information classification system (taxonomy) to improve the navigation and search on public web sites and intranets owned by YUSA and independent YMCAs.

Our Work
Olkin Communications Consulting applied a user-centered approach to this taxonomy project, interviewing YUSA departments and people in various functions at YMCAs and analyzing hundreds of documents and online sources. The result was a hierarchical set of topics that encompassed the information produced, used, and referenced by YUSA and YMCAs. The taxonomy incorporated both generic business terms and YMCA-specific terms, such as the preferred nomenclature for programs, initiatives, and membership groups.

Once we developed a draft taxonomy, we refined it with the help of focus groups and card sorting exercises.

Outcomes
The taxonomy has been incorporated in a series of knowledge management, technology, and business intelligence initiatives. As the organization, its activities, and its web properties evolve, the taxonomy will evolve along with them, facilitating efficient knowledge management and the discovery of information throughout the YMCA movement.