U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program FSIS Web site Re-design Project Information Architecture Strategy October 8, 2003

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 2 I. Project and Design Meeting Schedule II. Information Architecture Approach III. Web Presence Initiative IV. Navigation by Audience, Topic, and Task V. Next Steps Agenda

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 3 Project Schedule The following represents a high level timeline of activities for the re-design project:

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 4 Design Meeting Schedule The table below outlines all FSIS Re-design Review meetings over the next 9 weeks:

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 5 Information Architecture Approach The re-designed Information Architecture was built upon information gained from:  FSIS Visioning Sessions Agency representatives brainstormed and conceptualized goals of the re-design effort Ideas from these meetings served as an overall blueprint for the information architecture  Audience Analysis Program area experts guided understanding of consumers of agency services and information Audience based information from personal interviews informed the creation of the navigation scheme Users will be able to access content specific to their interests and needs  Content Audit The FSIS site was surveyed to better understand the current content and architecture of the existing 13,000+ pages This inventory of content provides a through map of the existing site, feeds the creation of a more intuitive navigation structure, and ensures the inclusion of all necessary existing information  usda.gov and Web Presence projects usda.gov is being re-designed concurrent to the FSIS re-design effort Enterprise wide standards ensuring consistency across agencies has dictated some elements of the new site architecture

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 6 Existing Web Site Structure The homepage drives navigation on the existing agency Web site. No global or local navigation schemes exist. By necessity, most content areas are accessed via lists of links on the front page.

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 7 Re-Designed Web Site Structure Global and local navigation options will link all content areas in the re-designed architecture. In this new structure, paths to desired content will be consistent and clear. Homepage real estate will be freed to highlight main content areas.

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 8 Web Presence Initiative FSIS is the first of 29 USDA agencies to follow Enterprise-wide web presence standards. Consistency across agency sites will create a sense of Departmental unity, legitimacy, and strength in the eye of the user. Web presence standards include:  Consistent use of USDA branding graphics  Inclusion of customizable agency banner treatments  Adherence to 3 column page design  Standardized location and functionality of utility items  Use of repetitive navigation schemes including navigation by audience, topic, and task

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 9 Web Presence Homepage Wireframe

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 10 FSIS Audiences A detailed audience analysis, including research and employee interviews, determined the users of FSIS online. The individual needs of user groups were considered in the design of the information architecture.  Constituent Groups Regulations and Policies Food Recalls Constituent Updates Service Center Locations  Scientists and Researchers Accredited Laboratories Testing Procedures Scientific Findings Regulations and Policies  Businesses Regulations and Polices Inspection Information International Trade Field Offices  FSIS Employees Technical and Professional Training Information Agency Organizational Structure & Contact Information Regulations and Policies Employee Benefits Information  Consumers and Educators Food Handling and Preparation Food Recalls Outbreak Information Food Safety Education Meat and Poultry Hotline Featured News Stories and Images

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 11 Browse by Subject Standardized subject based navigation options will be available to users from each page of the agency site. Highlighted subjects include:  Education- A significant segment of the agency’s risk asessment responsibility is education. This content includes technical training materials, as well as general food safety education topics. Professional Training Food Safety Education  Science- FSIS protects public health by enforcing policies grounded in science. This content includes food safety research, laboratory processes, and study outcomes listed in relevant reports. Accredited Laboratories Training Procedures Scientific Findings

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 12 Browse by Subject  Regulations and Policies- FSIS is a regulatory agency. This content is designed for users interested in understanding and following the rules and regulations governing food safety. Regulations Inspections International Trade  Food Recalls- Products are recalled when found to be contaminated, adulterated, or misbranded. This content highlights active and archived recall cases. Procedures for Food Recalls Federal Cases– Active Federal Cases– Archive State Cases– Active FDA Recalls and Safety Alerts FSIS Newsletters and ListServs

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 13 Browse by Subject  Newsroom- This content is a collection of news related materials. It is designed for users seeking agency related stories, images, and speeches. News Releases Meetings and Events Speeches Communication to Congress FSIS Newsletters and ListServs Image Libraries

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 14 Common Tasks In effort to increase customer service, a list of common online agency tasks has been compiled and built into the information architecture. Users can navigate the site based on their active intentions.  I Want to… Ask a Food Safety Question Take FSIS training Request FOIA information Subscribe to FSIS Newsletters or ListServs Locate a District Office Complete a Form Schedule a Food Mobile Visit Play a Food Safety Game

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 15 Global Navigation Global navigation schemes are available from each page on the FSIS site. Redundancy in navigation creates site familiarity and increased opportunity to access content. ( * ) mandated by web presence initiative  Publications Backgrounders Food Safety Education and Consumer Information Periodicals and Newsletters Procedures, Policies, and Findings  Help* A to Z Index FAQ’s Glossary Site Map Technical Support  Contact Us*  En Espanol*  Search*  About FSIS* Welcome and Mission History Structure and Organization Leadership Associated Agencies and Partners  Careers Current Openings Application Process Benefits Information Recruiter Information Employee Development Food Safety Fellows  Forms

FSIS Website Re-Design Project United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program 16 Next Steps The Next Steps in the FSIS Re-design effort are:  Receive feedback on Information Architecture Strategy  Finalize Navigation Elements  Create new FSIS Site Map  Create FSIS Wireframes