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Using Wikis for Collaboration and Enhancing Organizational Knowledge
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Posted On Jan 16, 2008
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 "Wiki" a term used in almost all the business discussions today. But unfortunately this term is not very apparent to a number of people. This blog is an effort to make readers understand about Wikis, the importance and benefits they can offer being used effectively within large companies.
We can state it as an online tool that permits users to update and publish content collaboratively. Anyone who has access can edit the content, using a very simple tool and an ordinary web browser. A defining characteristic of Wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. Wiki usage is known as ‘collaborative authoring’. *
 The leading and most well known wiki is Wikipedia. This web-based encyclopedia based on free collaborative content was founded in 2001 and already has more than 1.6 million articles. A more recent example of Wiki innovation is Wikicities, a collection of communities with websites that you can edit.
How can companies build their knowledge base by using Wiki Systems?
We all know that for an organization to grow beyond one man’s capacity it is important that the organizational knowledge be stored, that keeps on growing with time in a way that can be searched and updated easily. I have come across a number of organizations that are still unaware to this term and miss out on an opportunity to share great updatability and optimized knowledge and information.
As technology takes over making a lot of complicated applications comfy, Wiki like features should be added to the existing systems to support collaborative efforts by organizations.
Areas where Wikis can help the organization are:
Knowledge and information sharing
Companies can carry simple and flexible repository for shared information and collaboration
Identification of best practices
Wiki System helps company’s team to work more collaboratively
Content publishing
With the help of Wikis companies can turn static and outdated documents to love and dynamic ones.
Project management and documentation
An appropriate wiki system helps different companies in the search and recovery of their credentials.
Company structure
It offers companies with a more structured approach.
Some key factors companies should consider while creating a successful Wiki system
On one hand where the new technologies emerge more and more challenging everyday, wikis correspond to relatively simple collaborative capabilities available for any organization. Use of Wiki separately constrains the potential for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Instead Wiki should be used as one of the tools to maintain internal communities.
This will finally unlock the real benefits of collaborative working by addressing key issues like provision of compelling content, change in behavior etc.
Some more key factors to be considered while implementing a wiki in an organization:
- The Wikis should be apt and incorporate personal involvement.
- Always make the content provider visible
- The errors should be marked and altered mechanically by the editors.
- Wikis should include meta-content to support and connect users.
- All members should contribute valuable content.
Here is a snipit that demonstrates a few of the really great business scenarios that wikis can support, especially when integrated with RSS:
“A CEO wanted the whole company to be aware of what their competitors where doing on a real time basis. He also wanted the whole team to be aware of all the latest changes in rules and regulations affecting the markets for the products they produce. In addition, the whole team needed to be kept up to date on the latest relevant research. He realized that they needed to tap the whole company as a source for this information. The information came from conferences, reports, personal contacts, and other unexpected sources. Clearly, it made sense to tap the whole team as an information gathering resource”.
How about some examples of some major companies using Wikis?
Organizations that have leveraged Wikis include Disney, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW), Yahoo, Lufthansa , New York Times Digital and Motorola. For example, Disney Corporation uses wikis, integrated into a collaborative toolset along with internal blogs and RSS feeds, as part of an information sharing strategy aimed at facilitating internal discussion, and documentation. Some more companies like IBM, SAP, and Sony Ericsson all use wikis as part of their developer networks. Others, like Pixar, Carbon Five, and Red Ant use wikis for collaboration with clients and managing production on major projects.
So have you started a wiki recently? Thinking of starting one? What are your plans for it?
Some Related Articles:
The Wiki Toolbox: 30+ Wiki Tools and Resources
6 steps to enhance your wiki’s chances of being STOLEN,
Using a wiki instead of email or documents
Lessons from the TechCrunch Wiki War
Wikipedia Search Engine WikiSeek Launches
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