Wikis

“A wiki is a collection of web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content. Wikis are often used to create websites and to power community websites” (Wikipedia). 

If your team finds it difficult to organize all necessary project information, you might consider using a wiki. Wikis can be especially useful for geographically dispersed teams who need easily accessible information.

It’s a good idea to start your planning by talking to your IT team about how your organization can provide teams with the ability to create wikis on the organization’s web server.  Downloading and installing open source wiki software on a web server is a simple process and ensures the security of your documents and information. You may even find that your organization’s servers already have wiki capability, but no one is using it.

To make a wiki the “go-to” location for your team members, it helps to keep in mind the What’s In It For Me? (WIIFM) principle:

 

• Provide clear instructions on how to access and use the wiki.
• Make sure the wiki is easy to use so team members don’t have extra work; the wiki should become just another part of your team’s workflow.
• Determine who will moderate and edit posts, answer questions, and keep the information updated. These people will lead in promoting a culture of friendly collaboration.
• Post important information that is only accessible on the wiki: meeting agendas, meeting notes, status reports, project documents, etc. Team members will always know where to find the latest information and documents.
• Encourage team members to ask questions and provide answers on the wiki, not in emails. 
• Identify and publically acknowledge team members who use and contribute to the wiki.

If you’d like to learn about setting up and using a wiki for your team, the following resources will help you get started:

• The Wikipedia page about wikis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki
• A comparison of wiki software: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_software
• Set up a Wiki on your computer: http://lifehacker.com/163707/geek-to-live--set-up-your-personal-wikipedia