When you hear the word “wiki,” Wikipedia is probably first thing that comes to mind. Founded in 2001, the famous online encyclopedia now has 27 million registered users and an estimated 18 billion monthly page views. Wikipedia, which is technically a collection of hundreds of wikis, is one of the world’s most visited websites.
Outside of Wikipedia, there are thousands of other wikis—both public and private—that were created by an array of individuals, educational institutions, and enterprises.
It means quick in Hawaiian, but the word has taken on new meaning in the digital age. A wiki is a collaborative webpage with an open-editing system. Users can create and link pages and easily share, organize, and edit content.
Ward Cunningham, the computer programmer who created the wiki in 1994, described his invention like this:
“The idea of a ‘Wiki’ may seem odd at first, but dive in, explore its links and it will soon seem familiar. ‘Wiki’ is a composition system; it’s a discussion medium; it’s a repository; it’s a mail system; it’s a tool for collaboration. We don’t know quite what it is, but we do know it’s a fun way to communicate asynchronously across the network.”
While Cunningham wasn’t sure how it would be used at the time, the wiki has proven to be a powerful collaboration tool for groups, schools, and organizations. A successful corporate wiki serves as a central knowledge base for the company’s workforce.
Here are just a few reasons you should consider creating a wiki for business:
Keep reading to learn how to make your own wiki, from kick-off to distribution.
A company wiki should include important organizational resources, such as:
If you’re creating a team wiki, provide information that’s relevant to your specific department, including:
If you’re creating a project wiki, consider including:
When you share it with the organization, emphasize that this wiki is now the central knowledge base for the company. Explain that all the answers they need—including policies, processes, contact information, best practices, and other essential information—can be found in the wiki. Give clear instructions on how to use the wiki, including the search feature, so they can quickly and easily find the info they need.
Once the wiki has been published, empower your employees to use it. When people ask questions or request info, don’t send them the answers via email or chat. Instead, direct them to the section of the wiki where they can find the info. This will get everyone in the habit of searching the wiki for anything they need.
Your employees are more likely to use the company wiki if the content is accurate and current. Ask contributors to review and update their pages regularly with any changes to contact info, processes, and other important info.
It takes time, patience, and teamwork to create a wiki—but your efforts will pay off in the long run. A corporate or team wiki not only increases the productivity of your current employees, but it also simplifies the onboarding process for new hires.
Some collaboration tools can simplify the process of creating a wiki. If you’re looking for user-friendly collaboration software that allows you to easily create a Wiki tab, try Microsoft Teams for free.
The Microsoft 365 team is focused on sharing resources to help you start, run, and grow your business.
Business Insights and Ideas does not constitute professional tax or financial advice. You should contact your own tax or financial professional to discuss your situation.
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