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Wiki

Brief Description:

The term wiki is used to describe a piece of software that allows multiple dispersed authors to edit the content of web pages.

Description:

A wiki is a collaborative software that allows users to comment on and change one another's text. It enables documents to be written by several authors at the same time.

It can also be a database for creating, browsing, changing and searching information. Pages can be uploaded or amended by users who are normally asked to register beforehand, but registration is open to the general public.

Every wiki has a 'recently updated' section which lists the recent edits, time and name of user.

Wikis can be used to allow participants to edit and contribute to documents, developing shared knowledge or commenting on existing ideas and proposals.


Used For:

  • collaborative online working
  • drawing on the knowledge of internet users more widely

Suitable participants:

Anyone with computer and internet access can theoretically amend a wiki. However many wikis are restricted to particular users in order to create a safe space for discussion and co-creation.

Cost:

Medium

Wiki software does not have to be expensive but it requires skilled staff to run and manage the creative chaos that wikis can become.


Time Requirements:

Wikis can be time limited and linked to a particular project or ongoing features that are allowed to develop over time.

In order to gain the most benefits from wikis they should be allowed to be online for a few months so that people are able to engage with the content posted by others and respond by posting their own ideas and thoughts.

An often overlooked challenge is to get people to contribute to the wiki in the first place. It is important to think carefully whom it is expected will care enough about the issue to post on the wiki and how these people can be encouraged to do so.


When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

  • a collaborative and open approach to working.
  • development of ideas and comments in one space.

When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:

  • wikis cannot be used to make decisions
  • wikis cannot be used to engage with communities where large groups lack IT skills

Strengths:

  • makes collaborative working easier.
  • contributions can be made in own time.
  • through the involvement of many users the finale result can become more than the sum of its parts

Weaknesses:

  • critics argue that the wiki systems can be easiliy tampered with.
  • content can be inappropriate or malicious.
  • wikis require moderation
  • getting users to contribute in the first place can be difficult

Origin:

eDemocracy

The word wiki comes from the Hawaiian word for 'fast', but the is also the acronym of 'what I know is' has also been used. Wikis were developed in the 2000s as an online collaboration tool.


Case Studies:


Related Methods


Restrictions In Use


None

Further Information

International Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy
Lichfield District Council
Frog Lane
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS12 6YY

Telephone: +44 (01543) 308101

Email: carol.pepper@icele.org

Web: http://www.icele.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.involve.org.uk/involvewiki

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