Launching an Enterprise Wiki 6 Steps to Success Darren Gibbons ThoughtFarmer [email_address]

Why use an Enterprise wiki?

What’s the problem? Intranet team can’t keep up If it’s not up-to-date, usage drops Updating process alienates Ownership is skewed

Intranet team can’t keep up

If it’s not up-to-date, usage drops

Updating process alienates

Ownership is skewed

Turn users into authors

The Green Place Green is no longer the domain of a few crusaders on the fringes of society; it has matured into an established reality. We feel that it is the responsibility of each human and every organization to advance the cause of sustainability, playing a key role through behaviours and decision making. In light of this, we are formally declaring our support for and commitment to initiatives that have as their goal to reduce the impact Kermit.jpg

In the beginning was the document.

They’ve been around for a while

The Good Good for formal communication Universal Format (according to Microsoft) Print really well

Good for formal communication

Universal Format (according to Microsoft)

Print really well

The Bad Documents are formal Not great for multiple-author collaboration Finding information in documents is not easy

Documents are formal

Not great for multiple-author collaboration

Finding information in documents is not easy

And then there was email

Email Pros Easy. Minimal formatting required Fast. Have a thought, bang it out, off it goes Universal. Everyone has an email address

Easy. Minimal formatting required

Fast. Have a thought, bang it out, off it goes

Universal. Everyone has an email address

Email Cons Too much of a good thing Poor for documenting decisions Knowledge gets locked inside inboxes

Too much of a good thing

Poor for documenting decisions

Knowledge gets locked inside inboxes

Wiki is Best of Both Worlds Low barrier to content creation Shared knowledge archive Easily findable

Low barrier to content creation

Shared knowledge archive

Easily findable

Strengthen workplace community

Strengthen workplace community

The six steps to Enterprise Wiki Success

Step 1: Pilot with the right group

Don’t make The pilot group too BIG

Don’t make The pilot group too BIG But don’t make it too small either

Attitude Choose keeners that aren’t afraid to try new things www.flickr.com/photos/morgantepsic/281890763/

Seniority Get at least one – preferably more senior member in the pilot group www.flickr.com/photos/pierrelaphoto/2257803239/

Step 2: Designate a Wiki Gardener

Wiki Gardener Performs small edits, increase overall value of everyone’s content flickr.com/photos/nakae/204037619/

Tips for Gardeners Cosmetic editing of content Fixing links, organizing Tagging Set an example for others

Cosmetic editing of content

Fixing links, organizing

Tagging

Set an example for others

Step 3: Start with a basic structure

Blank slate is bad Start with a skeleton It’s easier to edit than create flickr.com/photos/cjmaru/2212612091/ /

Sample structure Tools and Links People How-To News Projects Offices Departments Corporate Engineering Finance Human Resources IT Legal Marketing Sales

Tools and Links

People

How-To

News

Projects

Offices

Departments

Corporate

Engineering

Finance

Human Resources

IT

Legal

Marketing

Sales

Step 4: Migrate existing content

Barn raising Get 4 or 5 people to migrate content from existing systems flickr.com/photos/teagrrl/232123946/

Employee Directory Get employee information into the system

Keep it fresh Aim for new content every day www.flickr.com/photos/morgantepsic/281890763/

Step 5: Training and Support

Learning by doing Give users a set of tasks to perform

Learning by doing

Give users a set of tasks to perform

Narrated Walkthroughs Screencast software: - Adobe Captivate - Camtasia

Narrated Walkthroughs

Screencast software:

- Adobe Captivate

- Camtasia

Don’t forget print documentation!

Don’t forget print documentation!

Step 6: Promote and Launch!

Promote: Generate interest

Launch: Make it an event Bring donuts www.flickr.com/photos/morgantepsic/281890763/

Six steps to Wiki success Pilot with the right group Designate a Wiki Gardener Start with a basic structure Migrate existing content Training and support Promote and launch

Pilot with the right group

Designate a Wiki Gardener

Start with a basic structure

Migrate existing content

Training and support

Promote and launch

Thank You! Darren Gibbons [email_address] www.thoughtfarmer.com

Darren Gibbons

[email_address]

www.thoughtfarmer.com