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If you hear the term \u201cwiki\u201d, chances are you immediately think of Wikipedia<\/span><\/a>, the world\u2019s largest online encyclopedia or WikiLeaks<\/span><\/a>, Julian Assange\u2019s multinational media organization and associated library.<\/span><\/p>\n But what a lot of people don’t know is that there’s a whole realm of wiki that isn’t limited to the two aforementioned websites.<\/span><\/p>\n In this article, we’ll not only take a look at wiki as you know it, but also at wiki software, team wiki<\/a>, personal wiki, and how it all contributes towards excellent team collaboration<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n According to Wikipedia, perhaps the most well-known wiki, a wiki<\/span><\/a> is a \u201cknowledge base website on which users collaboratively modify content and structure directly from the web browser.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Launched in 1995, the first-ever wiki was created by Ward Cunningham called the WikiWikiWeb<\/span><\/a> (it still exists today!). Cunningham wanted to build something that would enable a quick exchange of information between programmers, hence why he chose the name “wiki”, which derives from the Hawaiian word for \u201cquick\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n A wiki website differs from viewing-only websites as it welcomes people to collaborate on the information. The intention of a wiki is not to draw in experts or professionals on a certain topic, instead, it encourages everyday visitors to contribute and collaborate on the content. This is why most wiki designs are based on simplicity.<\/span><\/p>\n According to Cunningham and his co-author, Bo Leuf, of the book The Wiki Way: Quick Collaboration on the Web<\/i><\/span><\/a>, a wiki requires the following prerequisites:<\/span><\/p>\n Wikis often get a bad rap as sources of reliable information due to their openness and promotion of contribution. While it is common for wikis to only allow members to edit and publish content, there are wikis that don\u2019t require membership at all, and editing and uploading text is open to the public. This can, of course, invite vandals to a page.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>There is a high potential for vandalism on publicly-accessible wikis. Because contribution isn\u2019t restricted to members only, anyone can add profanity, upload explicit images, or even delete the content of a page.<\/span><\/p>\n However, just as it\u2019s easy for people to misuse a wiki, the damage can be rectified just as quickly. Most wikis enable readers to report mishandled information, and admins can block repeat offenders.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>Edit wars are a more subtle form of vandalism where two or more people edit a wiki page to more strongly reflect their opinions on a topic. Most prevalent with controversial topics, an edit war will see a page constantly being edited, re-edited, and reverted so that the various outlooks are expressed to a greater or lesser degree.<\/span><\/p>\n Your beloved wiki websites are operated on what is known as wiki software. A great tool for online team collaboration, wiki software<\/span><\/a> allows users to create and edit pages through a web browser. There are three types of commonly used wiki software:<\/span><\/p>\n Public wiki is perhaps what most people are familiar with. These are websites such as Wikipedia, WikiHow, and Wiktionary, where anyone is invited to edit their content. Oftentimes, however, users are required to register if they want to contribute. Public wikis are the ones most susceptible to misuse and vandalism.<\/span><\/p>\n Common within enterprises and organizations, a private team wiki is a great way to communicate and collaborate with individuals across a company. Basically a knowledge base or intranet, it\u2019s closed off and accessible to only the employees of an organization, with different levels of access given to various individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n Having a company wiki tool can encourage staff members to share their expertise with the rest of the team. Someone in the sales department, for instance, can give public speaking tips, or someone in the back office can advise on how to use the recycling bins correctly. It would also be an ideal platform for virtual teams<\/a> to collaborate on.<\/span><\/p>\n Given that the team wiki<\/a> has to be used by various members with, presumably, various levels of technical skill, it\u2019s always best to use wiki software that\u2019s user-friendly and easy to edit.<\/span><\/p>\n A personal wiki<\/span><\/a> allows an individual to organize their data in a style that\u2019s comparable to traditional, community-edited wikis. It usually doesn\u2019t enable multiple-user access, meaning that access is limited to you (the user).<\/span><\/p>\n A wiki tool can be used to help you to be more productive<\/a>. You can organize personal data<\/a>, plan a hobby project<\/a>, or manage work information<\/a>. And because it\u2019s private only to you\u2014and the people you authorize access to\u2014you can store confidential and personal information without the risk of it being vandalized or misused.<\/span><\/p>\n Wikis are a great platform for collaboration between like-minded people and those who share a common objective (such as colleagues or students who attend the same institution). Here are some examples of how wikis can be used:<\/span><\/p>\n Wikis are a great way to relay information between people who are passionate about a common interest. Just imagine the content contribution efforts from a group of people who are enthusiastic about the same topic!<\/span><\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a television franchise such as RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race or an association of dog lovers, there are many groups and communities that could use a wiki to share news and updates, discuss the topic in-depth, or simply express their love and passion.<\/span><\/p>\n Introducing a wiki tool in the classroom can benefit both teachers and students<\/a> as it supports a collaborative working environment. It can help lay the foundations for self-education and strengthen online learning.<\/span><\/p>\n By collaborating on a wiki, students are no longer just absorbers of information, but also creators. And teachers can use them to plan course curricula and to share information with other teachers.<\/span><\/p>\n As a great content management system, businesses can use wiki software on an enterprise level for their company intranet and\/or knowledge base system. It would work as a great communication network between departments and offices.<\/span><\/p>\n It would also be a great tool for facilitating business processes such as employee onboarding<\/a>. New staff members would have the ability to locate any information they need to successfully integrate into the new company.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re a self-employed writer, designer, or consultant, freelancers can use personal wikis to organize their clients and commissions.<\/span><\/p>\n Experienced freelancers can accumulate a range of clients with commissions from different industries or with varying formats. Using a wiki tool as a database can be ideal to locate and archive all of your assignments and projects. It can also be used as a simple CRM tool<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/wiki-tool-collaboration.jpeg\")
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\nWhat Is a Wiki?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Attributes of a Wiki<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Misuse of Wikis<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Vandalism<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
Edit Wars<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
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\nWiki Software<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Public Wiki<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Team Wiki<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Personal Wiki<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nWho Would Benefit from Using a Wiki Tool?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Fan Groups and Communities<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nEducation Bods<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Businesses, Big or Small<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Freelancers<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nThe Benefits of Using a Wiki Tool to Enhance Collaboration<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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