Wiki - The powerful communication tool

We have talked about Wiki in BA512 class and actually, each student in class has to select one specific category to contribute to. Many people think that Wiki is similar to blog or some social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. However, what differentiates a wiki from a blog is the fact that multiple people can -- and usually do in the case of popular wikis -- work on a single piece of content. This means that a single article could have as few as a single author or as many as tens or even hundreds of authors. This is very different from a blog where an article will usually have only one author. Some blogs are collaborative efforts of multiple bloggers, but even then, a single article is generally attributed to a single blogger.

The business wiki is one of the most powerful Enterprise 2.0 tools and is capable of transforming the nature of communication within a company. While normal corporate communication flows in a straight line, often from top to bottom, a business wiki can create a synergy of communication that flows from the bottom up.

Designed as a simple-to-use collaborative tool, wikis have risen through the ranks of content management systems. From replacing an internal knowledge base to providing templates for reports and memos, wikis are invading the workplace and changing the way we do business. Here are some of the advantages of using Wiki in business:

Global communications is an obvious target for a wiki in the workplace.

More than just keeping employees around the world informed, a global wiki can provide a method for teams with members in different locations to work together seamlessly and share information on a project.

Another excellent use for the business wiki is as a replacement for knowledge bases and frequently asked questions (FAQs). The collaborative nature of wikis makes it the perfect tool for small teams of people who need to create and distribute information to a large group of readers.

Wikis can also play a role in enhancing meetings, and in some cases, replace them altogether. A wiki can be a great place to store meeting minutes and provide the opportunity for employees to offer additional input outside of the meeting.

A wiki can also reduce the number of meetings needed to keep a project on track. Communication and synergy of ideas are the two main goals of most meetings, and a wiki is an excellent tool that can accomplish both of these goals.

Taking the wiki meeting one step further, a wiki can be used to centralize the information and organization of an entire project. Not only could it store meeting notes and provide brainstorming synergy, it can organize the project into an open environment with two-way communication.

Project documentation can sometimes be a dirty word in business, especially in information technology departments. Everyone strives for it, but not everyone has it. This is mainly because of the intuition barrier. Simply put, project documentation is often not a very intuitive process, and when something is not intuitive, it bogs down.

This post is summarized from this website:
http://webtrends.about.com/od/wiki/a/what_is_a_wiki.htm