# Information Architecture - How to Malaysia Website

## Site Structure Overview

### Navigation Hierarchy

```
How to Malaysia (Root)
├── 🏠 Home
├── 🚀 Getting Started
│   ├── Before You Arrive
│   │   ├── Visa Requirements by Country
│   │   ├── Essential Documents Checklist
│   │   ├── Currency and Money Tips
│   │   ├── Weather and Climate Guide
│   │   └── Cultural Preparation
│   ├── First 24 Hours
│   │   ├── Airport to City Transport
│   │   ├── Getting a SIM Card
│   │   ├── Emergency Contacts
│   │   ├── Basic Bahasa Phrases
│   │   └── Currency Exchange
│   ├── First Week Essentials
│   │   ├── Finding Accommodation
│   │   ├── Opening Bank Account
│   │   ├── Getting Internet/WiFi
│   │   ├── Grocery Shopping Basics
│   │   └── Transportation Options
│   └── Setting Up Long-term
│       ├── Residence Registration
│       ├── Tax Number Application
│       ├── Healthcare Registration
│       ├── Utilities Setup
│       └── Social Security Registration
├── 🧳 Tourism & Travel
│   ├── Planning Your Trip
│   │   ├── Best Time to Visit
│   │   ├── Itinerary Suggestions
│   │   ├── Budget Planning
│   │   ├── Booking Flights
│   │   └── Travel Insurance
│   ├── Attractions & Sightseeing
│   │   ├── Kuala Lumpur Must-Sees
│   │   ├── Penang Island Guide
│   │   ├── Langkawi Paradise
│   │   ├── Cameron Highlands
│   │   ├── Malacca Historical City
│   │   ├── Sabah & Sarawak (Borneo)
│   │   └── Hidden Gems & Local Spots
│   ├── Transportation
│   │   ├── Domestic Flights
│   │   ├── Bus Travel Guide
│   │   ├── Train Systems (KTM/LRT/MRT)
│   │   ├── Ride-sharing (Grab/Uber)
│   │   ├── Car Rental Guide
│   │   └── Motorcycle/Scooter Rental
│   └── Accommodation
│       ├── Hotels vs Hostels
│       ├── Airbnb Guidelines
│       ├── Budget Accommodation
│       ├── Luxury Resorts
│       └── Booking Platforms
├── 🏠 Living in Malaysia
│   ├── Housing & Accommodation
│   │   ├── Rental Market Overview
│   │   ├── Finding Apartments/Houses
│   │   ├── Lease Agreements Guide
│   │   ├── Deposits and Fees
│   │   ├── Utilities Setup (TNB, Water, Gas)
│   │   ├── Internet Providers (TM, Maxis, etc.)
│   │   └── Moving Services
│   ├── Banking & Finance
│   │   ├── Choosing a Bank
│   │   ├── Account Types Explained
│   │   ├── Online Banking Setup
│   │   ├── Credit Cards Guide
│   │   ├── Investment Options
│   │   ├── Money Transfer Services
│   │   └── Financial Planning
│   ├── Shopping & Daily Life
│   │   ├── Grocery Stores Guide
│   │   ├── Shopping Malls and Markets
│   │   ├── Online Shopping (Shopee, Lazada)
│   │   ├── Bargaining and Haggling
│   │   ├── Tipping Etiquette
│   │   └── Recycling and Waste
│   └── Community & Social Life
│       ├── Making Friends and Networking
│       ├── Expat Communities
│       ├── Language Exchange
│       ├── Hobby Groups and Clubs
│       └── Dating and Relationships
├── 🏛️ Government Services
│   ├── Immigration & Visas
│   │   ├── Visa Types Overview
│   │   ├── Tourist Visa Extension
│   │   ├── Work Permit Application
│   │   ├── Spouse/Dependent Visa
│   │   ├── Student Visa Process
│   │   ├── Permanent Residence (PR)
│   │   └── Citizenship Application
│   ├── Official Documents
│   │   ├── IC (Identity Card) for Foreigners
│   │   ├── Driving License Conversion
│   │   ├── Marriage Registration
│   │   ├── Birth Certificate Process
│   │   ├── Police Report Filing
│   │   └── Document Translation/Attestation
│   ├── Legal Procedures
│   │   ├── Court Procedures
│   │   ├── Legal Aid Services
│   │   ├── Lawyer Selection
│   │   ├── Contract Reviews
│   │   └── Dispute Resolution
│   └── Taxes & Compliance
│       ├── Income Tax Filing
│       ├── GST/Sales Tax Guide
│       ├── Property Tax
│       ├── Import/Export Duties
│       └── Tax Exemptions
├── 💼 Work & Business
│   ├── Employment
│   │   ├── Job Search Strategies
│   │   ├── Work Permit Requirements
│   │   ├── Employment Pass Guide
│   │   ├── CV/Resume Writing (Malaysian Style)
│   │   ├── Interview Preparation
│   │   ├── Salary Negotiation
│   │   ├── Employee Rights and Benefits
│   │   └── Professional Development
│   ├── Starting a Business
│   │   ├── Business Registration (SSM)
│   │   ├── Company Types Explained
│   │   ├── License and Permits
│   │   ├── Banking for Business
│   │   ├── Office Space Solutions
│   │   └── Hiring Employees
│   ├── Freelancing & Self-Employment
│   │   ├── Freelance Work Permits
│   │   ├── Tax Obligations
│   │   ├── Client Management
│   │   └── Payment Methods
│   └── Investment & Trading
│       ├── Stock Market (Bursa Malaysia)
│       ├── Property Investment
│       ├── Foreign Investment Rules
│       └── Cryptocurrency Regulations
├── 🏥 Health & Wellness
│   ├── Healthcare System
│   │   ├── Public vs Private Healthcare
│   │   ├── Finding Doctors and Specialists
│   │   ├── Hospital Systems
│   │   ├── Prescription Medications
│   │   ├── Dental Care
│   │   ├── Mental Health Services
│   │   └── Alternative Medicine
│   ├── Health Insurance
│   │   ├── Insurance Options Overview
│   │   ├── Employer-provided Insurance
│   │   ├── Private Insurance Plans
│   │   ├── Claims Process
│   │   └── Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions
│   ├── Emergency Services
│   │   ├── Emergency Numbers (999, etc.)
│   │   ├── Hospital Emergency Departments
│   │   ├── Ambulance Services
│   │   ├── Poison Control
│   │   └── Natural Disaster Procedures
│   └── Preventive Care
│       ├── Vaccination Requirements
│       ├── Health Screenings
│       ├── Fitness and Gyms
│       └── Wellness Centers
├── 🎓 Education & Learning
│   ├── Schools & Universities
│   │   ├── International Schools
│   │   ├── Local Public Schools
│   │   ├── Private Schools
│   │   ├── University Application Process
│   │   ├── Student Visa Requirements
│   │   ├── Education Costs and Scholarships
│   │   └── School Registration Process
│   ├── Language Learning
│   │   ├── Bahasa Malaysia Courses
│   │   ├── English Improvement
│   │   ├── Chinese Language Classes
│   │   ├── Tamil Language Learning
│   │   └── Online Language Resources
│   ├── Professional Development
│   │   ├── Skill-based Courses
│   │   ├── Professional Certifications
│   │   ├── Continuing Education
│   │   └── Industry Training Programs
│   └── Adult Education
│       ├── Literacy Programs
│       ├── Computer Skills Training
│       └── Life Skills Courses
└── 🎭 Culture & Society
    ├── Food & Dining
    │   ├── Malaysian Cuisine Overview
    │   ├── Street Food Guide
    │   ├── Restaurant Etiquette
    │   ├── Dietary Restrictions (Halal, Vegetarian)
    │   ├── Cooking Malaysian Food
    │   ├── Food Safety Tips
    │   └── Traditional Festive Foods
    ├── Festivals & Traditions
    │   ├── Chinese New Year Celebrations
    │   ├── Hari Raya Festivities
    │   ├── Deepavali Traditions
    │   ├── Christmas in Malaysia
    │   ├── Harvest Festivals
    │   └── Local Cultural Events
    ├── Social Etiquette
    │   ├── Greeting Customs
    │   ├── Dress Codes
    │   ├── Religious Considerations
    │   ├── Business Etiquette
    │   ├── Gift-giving Customs
    │   └── Communication Styles
    └── Arts & Entertainment
        ├── Traditional Arts and Crafts
        ├── Modern Malaysian Art Scene
        ├── Music and Dance
        ├── Cinema and Theater
        └── Sports and Recreation
```

## Content Organization Principles

### 1. User-Centric Categorization
- **Task-based grouping:** Content organized by what users want to accomplish
- **Progressive disclosure:** Basic to advanced information hierarchy
- **Context-sensitive:** Information grouped by user situation and timing needs

### 2. Findability Features
- **Multiple pathways:** Content accessible through various navigation paths
- **Cross-referencing:** Related content linking and suggestions
- **Search optimization:** Structured for both site search and SEO

### 3. Accessibility Standards
- **Clear hierarchy:** Consistent heading structure (H1-H6)
- **Descriptive labels:** Self-explanatory navigation and link text
- **Breadcrumb navigation:** Clear location indicators
- **Skip links:** Keyboard navigation support

## Page Template Hierarchy

### 1. **Homepage Template**
```
Hero Section
├── Primary Value Proposition
├── Quick Action Cards (Getting Started, Popular Guides)
└── Search Bar

Featured Content
├── Most Popular Articles (4-6 cards)
├── Recently Updated Guides
└── Emergency Information Quick Access

Category Overview
├── Visual Category Cards (8 main categories)
├── Quick Stats (Articles count, User ratings)
└── Community Highlights

Newsletter & Updates
├── Email Signup
├── Social Media Links
└── Latest News/Updates
```

### 2. **Category Landing Page Template**
```
Category Header
├── Category Title and Description
├── Breadcrumb Navigation
└── Category Statistics

Subcategory Navigation
├── Visual Subcategory Cards
├── Popular Articles in Category
└── Filtering Options (Difficulty, Type, Audience)

Article Listings
├── Featured Articles (2-3 prominent cards)
├── All Articles Grid/List View
├── Pagination or Infinite Scroll
└── Sorting Options (Date, Popularity, Alphabetical)

Category Resources
├── Related Categories
├── External Resources
└── Community Discussions
```

### 3. **Article Page Template**
```
Article Header
├── Article Title (H1)
├── Category Breadcrumb
├── Author Info and Date
├── Reading Time Estimate
├── Difficulty Level
└── Share Buttons

Article Meta
├── Last Updated Date
├── Article Rating/Reviews
├── Print/Download Options
└── Language Selection

Article Content
├── Quick Overview/Summary
├── Table of Contents (for long articles)
├── Main Content with Progressive Headers
├── Step-by-step Instructions with Visuals
├── Tips and Warnings Callouts
└── Related Documents/Forms Links

Article Footer
├── Was This Helpful? Feedback
├── Comments Section
├── Related Articles Suggestions
├── Author Bio and More Articles
└── Social Sharing Options
```

### 4. **Search Results Page Template**
```
Search Header
├── Search Query Display
├── Results Count
└── Search Refinement Options

Filters Sidebar
├── Content Type Filter
├── Category Filter
├── Difficulty Level Filter
├── Date Range Filter
└── Language Filter

Results Listing
├── Relevant Article Cards
├── Search Result Snippets
├── Pagination
└── "No Results" Alternative Suggestions
```

## Navigation Design Patterns

### Primary Navigation
- **Horizontal top navigation** for main categories
- **Mega-menu dropdowns** for subcategories
- **Mobile hamburger menu** with collapsible sections
- **Persistent search bar** in header

### Secondary Navigation
- **Left sidebar** for deep category navigation
- **In-page table of contents** for long articles
- **Related content widgets** in sidebars
- **Footer sitemap** for comprehensive linking

### Breadcrumb Strategy
```
Home > Category > Subcategory > Article Title
Example: Home > Government Services > Immigration & Visas > Work Permit Application
```

## Content Relationships & Linking

### 1. **Contextual Cross-References**
- Related procedures linked within articles
- Prerequisite steps clearly indicated
- Follow-up actions suggested

### 2. **Content Clustering**
```
Primary Article: "How to Open a Bank Account"
├── Related: "Choosing the Right Bank in Malaysia"
├── Prerequisite: "Getting Your Visa and IC"
├── Follow-up: "Setting Up Online Banking"
└── Alternative: "International Banking Options"
```

### 3. **User Journey Mapping**
- **New Arrival Journey:** Airport → Accommodation → Banking → Mobile → Internet
- **Work Setup Journey:** Work Permit → Bank Account → Tax Registration → EPF
- **Family Journey:** School Registration → Healthcare → Housing → Community

## Search & Discovery Architecture

### Search Functionality
- **Global search:** Accessible from every page
- **Autocomplete suggestions:** Based on popular queries
- **Scoped search:** Within categories or content types
- **Voice search:** For mobile accessibility

### Content Discovery
- **Trending articles:** Based on recent traffic
- **Seasonal content:** Highlighted based on calendar events
- **Personalization:** Based on user's indicated interests/location
- **Random discovery:** "Explore" feature for serendipitous finding

## Information Architecture Testing Plan

### 1. **Card Sorting Results Analysis**
- Analyze user mental models
- Identify terminology preferences
- Validate category groupings
- Discover unexpected relationships

### 2. **Tree Testing Scenarios**
```
Task 1: "Find information about extending your tourist visa"
Expected Path: Government Services > Immigration & Visas > Tourist Visa Extension

Task 2: "Learn how to use public transportation in KL"
Expected Path: Tourism & Travel > Transportation > Train Systems

Task 3: "Understand what documents you need for opening a bank account"
Expected Path: Living in Malaysia > Banking & Finance > Account Types Explained
```

### 3. **First-Click Testing**
- Measure navigation confidence
- Identify problematic labels or categories
- Optimize for mobile vs desktop differences

## Responsive Information Architecture

### Mobile-First Considerations
- **Collapsed navigation:** Essential categories prioritized
- **Quick actions:** Most common tasks prominently placed
- **Progressive enhancement:** Advanced features added for larger screens
- **Touch-friendly:** Minimum 44px touch targets

### Device-Specific Adaptations
- **Desktop:** Full category visibility, multi-column layouts
- **Tablet:** Hybrid approach with expandable sections
- **Mobile:** Single-column, thumb-friendly navigation
- **Voice devices:** Optimized for voice queries and responses

---

## Implementation Timeline

### Week 3: Research & Validation
- [ ] Complete card sorting with 30+ participants
- [ ] Analyze user interview insights for IA implications
- [ ] Create initial site map based on research

### Week 4: Refinement & Testing
- [ ] Conduct tree testing on proposed structure
- [ ] Refine categories based on testing results  
- [ ] Create detailed page template specifications

### Week 5: Documentation & Approval
- [ ] Finalize information architecture document
- [ ] Create wireframes for key page templates
- [ ] Get stakeholder approval on structure

---

**Information Architect:** [Designer Name]  
**Last Updated:** October 12, 2025  
**Status:** Draft - Pending User Research  
**Next Review:** October 26, 2025