Nielsen Norman GroupEvidence-Based User Experience Research, Training, and Consulting
Most users are unable to solve even halfway complicated problems with search. Better to redirect their efforts into more supportive user interfaces when possible.
The user's target was at the top of the page in 98-point font. But she failed to find it because the panel auto-rotated instead of staying still.
In a miniature information architecture, coverage of a single topic is chunked into units that are connected through simple navigation.
Big 2-D drop-downs can facilitate site navigation - if they're properly designed. Two examples illustrate some mega-menu usability pitfalls.
Ordinal sequences, logical structuring, time lines, or prioritization by importance or frequency are usually better than A-Z listings for presenting options to users.