Using Wikis on the Intranet: A Case Study

[rwingo]

Recently, a user asked for some recommendations for an intranet wiki for a small nursing department.

We were able to recommend checking out WikiMatrix, which allows you to compare feature sets between some of the most common wiki software packages.

Today, Kevin Peyton over at The Health Tech Blog posted his comments on an interesting case study over at pebbleRoad.

Some excerpts from the pebbleRoad article:

Originally Posted by pebbleRoad

Wikis are increasingly being used on the intranet to help in collaboration around shared work. However, many case studies only briefly cover the actual work practices that successfully accommodate wikis; the focus is still on the overall reactions of the managers and staff on their use. In this article, I will describe how wikis are used in the Singapore branch of the British Council and highlight the characteristics of the work practices that accommodate them...

However, [Mark Hamilton] carefully pointed out that even though he found use for the wiki inside the British Council, it wouldn’t have taken off if it were not for the ‘culture of negotiation’ that already existed within the organization. It is in this culture of negotiation that people are aware that they don’t know everything; that others know different things; and through dialogue and negotiation, they can together create better things...

Wikis offer a simple shared space to collaborate on things that really matter. This does not translate into the “build it and they will come” thinking. Rather, as described in this article, wikis will work only if all of the following are present:

• The right culture. The talking, negotiating type.
• A practical, compelling reason to collaborate, to share (it helps if they are a number of practical, compelling reasons).
• A champion who can show the way.

As Kevin points out on his blog, software is just a piece of the puzzle. Creating a successful wiki involves having motivated leadership and participants as well as having a well designed workflow for creating and maintaining content.