IA vs Navigation

Elements of IA:Taxonomy, Navigation, Graphic Layout

Taxonomy: The underlying hierarchical or lattice structure of categories that a large site contains. Amazon for commodities, Egroups for discussions, Worldbank for development topics, Encyclopedia Brittanica for 'all knowledge'. These represent key categories that content is classified under.

Navigation: The labels, links and graphics that help users browse through a system.    It is not necessary to display all the taxonomy -- since several topics may share a single page. Nor is it necessary to use the identical names -- since some content might be linked to from within text where it is possible to use longer phrases to describe the topic. In the Encyclopedia Brittanica one is encouraged to search instead of browse.

Graphic layout: the way information is laid out on a page also has to do with the information architecture of a site.  For instance, it is now fashionable to elevate to the homepage news or specific items of interest whose natural home is buried deeply in a site.  This drives the user more deeply into the site, saving browsing time.  This style of information display is also part of the information architecture. It is an information strategy.

Here a map of the world is the navigational tool used for regions and countries.