| Using Wikis
Richard Torian June 3, 2010 I. Introduction. A unique software application (a type of a website) which most, if not all, of us know as a wiki, is an application that companies, and other organizations, can use to improve the organization’s performance. I searched the Internet for examples of how wikis are being used by organizations. This article provides some of the results of my searching. II. Examples of Wiki Use. This section has links to seven wikis and describes how each wiki is being used. a. http://wiki.ifrs.com/ The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has set up a wiki to compare the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) with the United States’ Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) for small and medium size companies (non public companies). Because this site is a wiki, all registered users can contribute what they know about the specifics of the accounting practices covered by both the IFRS and the GAAP standards. Most accountants are not able to know the specifics for all accounting practices, but with the wiki ability to easily edit pages, the collective knowledge of the users creates comprehensive information about the standards and their differences. b. http://wiki-eostar.com/index.php?title=Main_Page This wiki is used by a software company to enhance its customers’ use of the software. With input from company personnel and customers to the wiki, the company is able to provide, in a very accessible format, comprehensive information on the software use. Software is consistently being updated and a wiki website can be used very efficiently and effectively to communicate the updates, as well as the lessons learned by the company and users. c. http://wiki.nyayahealth.org/ The Nyaya Health Clinic in Nepal created this wiki to provide information on the clinic. Quite detailed information is provided on the services provided, challenges, resources, and other aspects concerning the clinic’s operations. Not only is the wiki useful to the clinic’s personnel and users, but the wiki serves to inform other stakeholders, such as donors, important information. By doing so, the clinic has found a efficient and effective way to improve the clinic’s success. d. http://iubusref.pbworks.com/ This wiki is an interesting application, developed by Indiana University, where a user can quickly find sources of information on a topic being researched. Because a wiki is being used, information sources can be easily updated. Also, the wiki format aids in the site navigation by the user. e. http://www.koreanwikiproject.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page This wiki demonstrates how wiki software might be used as a tool to learn a language. Using a wiki, comprehensive information on a language can be presented which then can be easily accessed because of the wiki format. User input on learning a language can be valuable to other learners. The user’s computer needs to be set up to show the language’s characters. f. http://richardtorian.wiki.zoho.com/HomePage.html The use of a wiki should be considered by small companies as a way of improving the company’s performance. The wiki at this link is a demonstration wiki for small business owners to show the owner how a wiki would be a good management tool. III. Wiki Vendors. Software companies offer wiki software commercially. Like other software applications, wiki software can incorporate various features intended to add usefulness to the software. Many software companies offer wiki software with limited features for free use, and then also have additional offerings with various enhanced features which require fees. Open source software (completely free even with enhanced features) is also available. This section provides links to four vendors that provide wiki software, as an example of vendors that seem to provide good products. Also, two links are provided to sites that lists dozens of wiki software software products (some open source) with some comparisons between the software. Vendors: http://www.wikidot.com/; http://pbworks.com/; http://www.projectforum.com/index.html; http://wiki.zoho.com/login.do?serviceurl=%2Fregister.do Comparisons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_software; http://www.wikimatrix.org/index.php IV. Conclusions. The characteristics described above in Section II demonstrate many of the important attributes that make wiki software unique and useful. The use of wikis seem to be increasing and probably with good reasons. Wiki software allows collaboration where personnel can communicate and exchange information with one another very efficiently and effectively. Wiki software is an excellent information management tool. As with all software, users do need to become familiar with the use characteristics and with security concerns. |