One of the most spectacular examples of how WIKI technology leverages social networking to create knowledge on a global scale is the Wikipedia project.  Wikipedia creates an environment within which it is easy for people to collaborate and where people are not afraid to contribute.

By actively applying the concepts of social networking, and supporting them with a technology such as WIKIs, it is possible to address one of the challenges being faced by businesses in the 21st century – how to capture all that tacit knowledge and intellectual capital that walks out of the office door every night in the heads of your employees.

In this age of the Internet, more and more people are connecting in virtual spaces rather than physical ones.  Virtual communities are becoming more common, particularly with respect to communities of practice among like-minded professionals.

One key motivator for people to contribute to virtual communities is the recognition that they get, which can have a significant impact on that person’s reputation and on the perception of their being a trusted source.  This “recognition factor” can be a key motivator in getting employees to share their knowledge with each other.

Of course it isn’t quite as simple as putting up a WIKI and expecting people to start using it.  The organization has to support the process, and management must be seen to actively participate in getting (and keeping) the ball rolling.  Employees will need encouragement and time to make their contributions, as well as recognition for making them.  Collaboration must be fostered so that people will welcome input from others.

As with anything, there is a minimum critical mass of activity and useful content that must be achieved before a knowledge base WIKI becomes widely adopted.  Key people will have to put energy into getting things going but, once the critical mass has been achieved, the process becomes self-sustaining with minimal effort.