I've just taken part in a review of some wiki work we have been doing with one of our larger corporate clients. I thought it would be worthwhile to write a post covering just two of the aspects with my high level views (NOTE they are MY views)!
Is the Wiki achieving its purpose?
No, not yet! I believe there are two main reasons for this. One is that not enough people have access to the wiki. For substantial network effects to be realised we need a critical mass of users participating and for this we need greater numbers. After all, a major premise in the now famous book on the subject of Wikinomics, is how mass collaboration changes everything. Once we have numbers of overall users in the thousands (and amongst these therefore a greater number of switched on and evangelical users), I believe we will start to see more useful activity. The other has to do with training. Not training on how to use the wiki (although this is still important since we are talking about a new toolset and the tool is still not being utilised to its full potential - far from) but training on how to work differently - collaboratively, innovatively, virtually, etc. Training is perhaps the incorrect word maybe reprogramming is better! Also, I think we need to focus on the softer side of things like valuing creativity, overcoming fear from participating or making mistakes, negating hierarchy, etc.
What value does the Wiki have?
Currently it is being used to store information - meeting minutes, attachments of presentations, etc. This is fairly useful but only touches the surface of possibilities. What should be done and/or supported is use of the wiki in the area touched on by the next questions, i.e. in peoples functions. The two obvious starting points are in generating and managing documentation and the other is in supporting project management. More emphasis should be placed on how people are currently working and delivering against their remit and how the wiki can be used to support this. Task forces by administrators or super users should be undertaken to observe team efforts and then make suggestions about how the wiki can be used around these efforts.
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