WIKI

"The simplest online database that could possibly work" - Ward Cunningham

What is a wiki?

A wiki is perhaps best explained with a good example. Wikipidea, as its name suggests, is an online encyclopedia that is delivered through a wiki. It can be accessed, modified or contributed to by anyone.

How does a wiki work?

You can get a wiki in one of two ways, either sign up with an online wiki service or download a wiki application and host it yourself.

Essentially the wiki is a democratic information resource; by the users and for the users.
A wiki is modified in much the same way it is viewed; through the browser. Users simply click edit buttons to view the page in an editable format. When they are finished editing the click save and the content is updated. The structure of the wiki evolves as new content is added and as such it is advisable to think carefully and logically about adding new content. However, most wikis have search features to help you get to your content quickly.

You can get a wiki in one of two ways, either sign up with an online wiki service or download a wiki application and host it yourself. Essentially the wiki is a website that the users can work together to build.

In the case of Wikipedia they wish to be as open as possible and as a result anyone is able to contribute. This may not be appropriate in corporate environments and so most wikis come with the ability to administer users and accounts.

Why is it important?

A common application of the wiki is a knowledge base. This is very useful in the work place for the following reasons:

• Keeping one consistent up-to-date source of protocol, documentation and other frequently or not so frequently required pieces of information.
• Easily backed up and portable the searchable wiki can provide instant answers to questions that could take hours to research.
• The wiki also provides a resource for new members of staff to help with the learning curve they encounter when entering the work place.
• One update to the wiki means everyone now has access to the latest changes to company policy etc.
• The wiki can also be used as an FAQ for dealing with questions that technical staff often find themselves consumed by, such as what to do if the printer is jammed, who to call etc.

What METHOD IT can do?

METHOD IT can help you make the decision over which type of wiki best suits your needs. We can install or configure the initial wiki, provide training on how to use and maintain the wiki, setup initial user accounts and administration. Where necessary we can also provide hosting facilities, advanced customization and integration services.

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