WikiFest Questions

From WikiSym 2008

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Please add your questions for the panel discussion. At the end of the WikiFest presentations, all speakers will gather for a panel discussion to jointly answer your questions.

Q: How can we approach making a wiki look good to attract people to it vs. keeping it usable?

• Depends on budget - at minimum, add logo and customize color scheme
• Wikis are easy to use, so not a lot is necessary
• Standard UI template in IBM, so just applied that to wiki.
• Design of page: better to keep layout as simple as possible. Complex markup can confuse users and discourage contributions.
• You can customize quite easily even on a shoestring. A web developer in your org can do it in just a few days. Keep it simple, and it won't require extensive effort.
• Color scheme and adding logo = ~1 hour of customization, minimal effort.
• Include "How-to" content on wiki, so people know how to make routine changes easily and quickly, without having to ask for help (which may be an obstacle).

Q: Is it necessary to remove some options to keep the wiki simple? Sometimes, yes. Taking off options you won't use keeps people from getting lost or putting content in the wrong place. Q: Does any one have examples on shifting collaborative tool usage within organisations? Such as using sms instead of e-mail?

• Eliminating a tool that's not well used, as the wiki use is growing, is a good way to make sure people don't feel pulled in too many directions.

Q: How do you motivate people to make connections as they use the tool? Find others with similar interests and work?

• No one thing that can motivate all the users.
• Work with core people who are eager to use the wiki, and they will motivate their own community/network to use the wiki with them.

Q: How do yo use the power of the connections you have? Search in multiple wikis?