The document proposes a dynamic voting wiki model to improve upon traditional wiki systems for collaborative work. It discusses problems with traditional wikis like credibility issues and "edit wars". The dynamic voting wiki model allows anonymous voting to reach consensus and incorporates real-time feedback through discussion and ability to change votes. An exploratory case study was conducted comparing a wiki only group to a wiki with voting group on a task. The voting wiki group had more discussion, ideas, and addressed disagreements better. The model shows potential for fast group decision making especially in time-critical domains. Further research is suggested using domain experts on an emergency-specific dynamic voting wiki.

1. A Dynamic Voting Wiki Model Connie White Linda Plotnick Murray Turoff Roxanne Hiltz Information Systems Department, NJIT

2. Why a Voting Dynamic Wiki? Groups of Individuals Fast Decision Making Consensus Neutral Point of View Easy Accessibility Real time feedback

3. Overview Wikis Decision Process Model Dynamic Voting Wiki Model Exploratory Case Study Observations Conclusions Limitations Future Research

4. Wikis Emerging Technology Internet & Browser Common site Anybody can edit anything Real Time Feedback Wikipedia

5. Problems with Wikis Credibility Hacking, WikiSpam Open editing – edit wars Survivor of Authorship Last edit “wins”

6. Dynamic Voting Wiki Model Asynchronous interaction Anybody can contribute Participate in any part anytime Anonymous voting Change vote View of current vote results Discussion – lessen ambiguity

7. Decision Making Process

8. Problem Definition with Wiki

9. Problem Definition with Wiki This cycle can consist of The entire problem being redefined, or fragmented parts or a single word posed for interpretation or dispute .

10. Idea Generation with Wiki

11. Idea Generation with Wiki List Generation Different Voting Initial acceptance Consensus Acceptance with revisions NPOV

12. Implementation with Wiki

13. Methodology 2 Teams of 15 Graduate Students Both had identical wikis Wiki only (self organized) Wiki with Voting (moderator) Task Generate a top ten list of the most influential emerging telecommunications that will influence how we work in the future Create glossary of terms

14. Discussion

15. Methodology Experimental group had voting to reach consensus, NPOV and rank list Problem definition Glossary definitions Ranking of item list

16. Bar Chart Feedback

17. Results - Discussion Voting wiki 57% more discussion Word count 47% more ideas Discussion postings Minimal glossary

18. Results - Discussion Non-voting wiki Well-developed glossary Many entries Consistent formatting Observed Emergent leadership Glossary Top-ten ranking

19. Observations Voting feedback generated discussion which increased overall understanding Focus on disagreements Reduce ambiguity Reduce uncertainty

20. Conclusions Dynamic Voting Wiki promising for group decision support with real time feedback Potential benefit for domains requiring fast decision making under time critical situations Decision making in Crisis

21. Limitations Small study of one class Online voting facilitated by moderator, not completely automatically by the system Student participants

22. Future Research Further studies using an emergency domain specific dynamic voting wiki with domain experts www.emergenciWiki.com Experts making decisions when time is critical All viewpoints expressed - NPOV Incorporate voting management into the system