Similarities between planners & IAs

Here's a quick take on what i thik the similarities are between the two disciplines before i head off to bed.

Work Similarities:
A desire to commission and facilitate research
A desire to deal with 'real people'
A belief in 'user/consumer input'

Personality trait similarities:
Huge variety in backgrounds (reducing on the IA side as more and more come via specific degree courses)
Broad range of diverse interests
Tendency to 'over think' problems
Insecure, but confident in intellectual abilities
Humurous
Slightly 'odd'
Elements of artistic tempremant
Desire not to be pigeon holed

Work Differences:
Planners desire to create great advertising that increases the value of the brand
IAs desire to create great user experiences that increase the value of the brand

I think most, if not all, of these traits apply to all the IAs I've met, and the few planners I've met too.

Essential for planners, useful for IAs

I've just started reading Truth, Lies and Advertising which is the most consistently name checked and recommended book I've so far seen on planning. And after 20 pages on the bus home I'm already intrigued by what's coming.

It sounds like it will have some real relevance to IA - and i've been stuck a few times at how similar the roles sound. Take this as an example:

The planner's role was basically to embrace consumers as partners in the process of developing advertising, to use their input at every stage of the process to inform and sometimes even inspire creative campaigns.

Does that not sound familiar? Swap 'advertising' for 'digital communications', 'online interactions' or just plain old 'websites' and suddenly you've got a UCD practitioner, or Information Architect.

I think this could all be huge amounts of fun. More after tomorrow's bus ride.

IA School (of the web)

Russell Davies has set up his 'Account Planning School of the Web' blog posts here and squidoo lens here.

He sets challenges.
People respond.
Either he, or a well respected mate, ends up marking it.

Wonderful idea, not sure how much longer he'll be able to do it before becoming overloaded, but really helpful, great idea. The more you give, the more you get.

I'm wondering if something similar for IA might be possible?

I'd love to try something like this.

Possible assignments:
On the tactical side:
- With the following information about a company, and nothing else available, create a persona or set of personas that are most appropriate.
- Create a 10 minute executive presentation of the following user testing report.
On the more strategic side
- Sum up the audience, business, and purpose of the website for xxx organisation for an executive.
- Set out a 2 year plan for the development of an xxxxx business online.

Could it work?
I think maybe. I'd need help marking them, just for the fun and also where i have little knowledge.

where's the fun? in learning more by teaching/writing than by reading