WHY ORGANIZING INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT

Every aspect of life relies on organization.

As we seek knowledge in the digital age, organization becomes even
more crucial. Our society is suffering from information overload — a
simple search for a subject can reveal thousands of web pages of
information. Finding accurate data from relevant sources is challenging,
and tracking various references is cumbersome when scattered across
multiple media.
Too much access to information can be stressful for learners, among
other consequences like anxiety, memory loss, and low productivity.
THE 5 WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY ORGANIZE INFORMATION

Richard Saul Wurman is regarded as

the father of information architecture and a key figure in
information theory. In “Information Architects,” he
introduced a system called LATCH, which he adapted
from his previous book, “Information Anxiety.”
Wurman explains his theory by breaking down the
LATCH acronym — “Information may be infinite,
however … The organization of information is finite as
it can only be organized by LATCH: Location,
Alphabet, Time, Category, or Hierarchy.”
He explains that in any case,
there are only five ways to effectively organize information :

 Location: This method arranges information according to a geographic or

physical location and is widely used for orienting or giving directions.
Examples include maps, training manuals, and repair instructions.
 Alphabet: The alphabet is universally identifiable, straightforward, and
convenient to use, especially when handling a lot of information.
Examples include company directories, dictionaries, and encyclopedias.
 Time: In this format, information is organized to be displayed step-by-
step or in chronological order. Examples include television program
listings, historical timelines, and itineraries.
 Category: This method groups entities by categories based on similar
characteristics or relatedness. Examples include books in a library,
supermarkets, and online retail stores.
 Hierarchy (or Continuum): This approach organizes data according to a
set of attributes, such as price, size, or weight. Examples include search
engine results, sports averages, and Top 10 lists.
A FRAMEWORK FOR ORGANIZING INFORMATION

Just as an explorer plans before embarking on an

expedition, you must know your learning goals
before beginning research. A clear understanding of
your goal will help you decide what information to
learn and how to arrange it in a logical order in an
organization system.
You can uncover important aspects of your goals
using the Five Ws and H of information gathering.
For example, you might ask yourself:
 Who: Who will have access to the information? Will this information
be used only by you or by others? Who will use your finished product
(are you writing for an audience or designing for a user)?
 What: What is your goal (is learning just the first step toward
achieving something bigger)? What do you need to know? What
format is required?
 Where: Where is your preferred source of information (in print,
online)? Where is the best source? Where will the completed work be
used?
 When: When will you locate the information? When will you need it
again (just once or regularly)? When will it help you achieve your
goal?
 Why: Why do you need this information (to establish a knowledge
base or give credibility to an idea)? Why is it helpful? Why does your
goal matter?
 How: How do you want the information used (for reference, as part of
a collection)? How often will it be available to you? How will you
present your completed project?