8 - Everything that will go Wrong in your Taxonomy Project

Summary

Editor's note: If you have been reading the book from the beginning, this chapter is a bit of an intermission. It is less about doing, and more about reflecting on, your taxonomy project. Once you have finished developing a taxonomy, it might be tempting to put your feet up and let the taxonomy's users and systems take over. But do not do that until you have read this chapter. Here, Ed shares some of the knottiest problems and misunderstandings that can arise from how the taxonomy is built and how it is being implemented. You may not need this chapter today, but one day you may find yourself thanking it for saving you a world of pain.

Introduction

Whether at conferences or during sales pitches, we hear a lot about the benefits of taxonomy implementation and its untroubled project process. But what if you are not working for a company with a large budget, engaged workforce and mature digital ecosystem? Most taxonomy projects will struggle and face numerous hurdles to successfully complete, let alone succeed. Your real-world scenario may look something like this …

Your company has decided to take the leap and invest in a new taxonomy and you have been selected to be the new Taxonomy/Metadata/Search/Knowledge Manager. Maybe you’ve been doing this for years or maybe your job has absolutely nothing to do with metadata; you just happened to be born unlucky and draw the short straw. How are you going to make this a success? Or, more importantly, how are you going to make sure as little as possible goes wrong?

Hopefully, you’re knee-deep in documentation from the business and consultants (otherwise you are going to have to get busy creating it) detailing the taxonomy, the software, the integrations and the vital importance and cruciality of your mission to the digital transformation of the business. But if I were a betting man, I’d say you’re working with nothing.

So, where to start?

A good place to start is to think about:

• 1 The taxonomy itself. Is it fit for purpose?

• 2 Where the taxonomy exists. The taxonomy won't live in isolation. It will be hosted in software, which is likely part of a larger digital ecosystem.

• 3 Who is going to use it? Let's not forget your users. Both customers and staff/cataloguers, who have to use your taxonomy and software, or … the dreaded C-suite/senior leadership team.