Nicky Bleiel presented to our class on Tuesday September 25 about wikis. She is employed by ComponentOne based out of Pittsburgh, Pa. The trip was a company sponsored event. Prior to speaking for our class she had made a trip to St. Louis, MO where she presented to an STC Chapter.
Knowledge management is the way organizations gather, manage, and use the knowledge that they acquire. The organizations depend on human communication to pass on knowledge. A wiki is a collaborative website that can be edited by anyone who is allowed access. The most commonly used wiki is Wikipedia. Wiki’s give businesses a competitive advantage in the business world. By sharing information between the employees of the company, businesses are able to have a broader knowledge of multiple topics. They stay up to date on current issues, updates, and new changes within the corporation. This saves the company time which enables them to be more productive. It also makes working together in an office setting easier. If members of a team are unable to meet together they can still share their information with each other and get it in a timely fashion.
Wikis are a very useful tool when it comes to knowledge management. In an environment where groups need to work together and coordinate ideas, they are almost essential. Wikis provide a method of sharing information that can be updated or corrected by anyone in the group. This means that information is accurate almost constantly, no matter what circumstances may occur. Another great thing about Wikis is that everyone has access to it. One part of the group may be in Europe, while the other part may be in Florida, but they have access to the same information, while still having the ability to update it.
There are several drawbacks to using a wiki that should be considered. Initially wiki users may have problems with the format and syntax rules associated with the wiki, although editor programs are available and relatively simple. Another problem could be maintaining a navigation/organization that matches site growth, which would entail some type of supervision to ensure data, is entered into appropriate areas and does not have excessive redundancies. This navigation/organization maintenance also is concerned with finding a balance between the original structure of the wiki and how content from the group is used on it. If users are entering their information in different and unexpected ways, the wiki may need to be restructured to comply with these changes. One of the most common concerns with a wiki is that users may use the wiki maliciously, adding false information or obscene content. False information or obscene content pose real problems for wikis which are open for public access on the internet. All of these drawbacks are important points to be considered if someone may be planning on implementing a wiki. These negative aspects of the wiki provide valuable knowledge about the credibility and effectiveness of wikis as internet web sources and areas in which to work.
There is a lot of information about Knowledge Management and opportunities that lie behind the computer screen. There is a move towards wikis and with good reasons. The information that Nikki taught us many important things in her presentation and our class greatly appreciates the time she has taken to come and present to our class.
