Comments on toddlyons.ca: Why Wiki Isn't New to Government

Hey Doug, thanks for your comment. Actually, I me...

2009-12-16T19:40:06.324-05:00

Hey Doug, thanks for your comment. Actually, I meant what I wrote, just as I wrote it. As a BBS sysop since 1990 and a MediaWiki sysop since 2005, I think I have a better than average grasp of communication and collaboration, and I feel like I can speak with some authority about wiki as process as opposed to wiki as software. I could be more directly critical of the government and its current practices, rather than trying to address issues of discomfort with a process that isn't as foreign as feared, but I think that would be another example of improper use of a hammer.

As for the comment fixing, we both owe thanks to Martha McLean for pointing out the symptoms that were making replying difficult (though not impossible). Thanks Martha, and thanks for your comment as well.

Just like you can hammer in a nail with your shoe,...

2009-12-16T11:20:36.097-05:00

Just like you can hammer in a nail with your shoe, the distinction as to how it is different to what a hammer accomplishes, may be lost lost on you.

Same with a document on the Shared Drive and the added "Track Changes" function on MS Word. Though you may not see the distinction between this and wikis, I'm not jumping to a Word-version of Wikipedia anytime soon. But I see your point, and I think you're alluding to "Collaboration".

Title and main theme, perhaps, should be "Why collaboration isn't new to Government".

Then go into why without government wikis, it's painstakingly slow, lacking transparency.

Just a suggestion.
PS Thanks for fixing commenting.

Good post Todd. I hope you're helping to sell ...

2009-12-15T13:01:57.637-05:00

Good post Todd. I hope you're helping to sell wikis in your department ;)

This sheds light on a key issue - we focus on the tool, not the utility or behaviour. Where do we fall down? In my opinion and experience, it's sales.

When you buy a car - the person who put the engine in isn't selling it to you. Rather, it's someone trained in knowing customer needs, fears and behaviours as well as the product who makes the deal.

In the case of my department, the IT shop that implemented the wiki has been 'selling' it. For the most part they're gaining traction but I think you can see where that's going.

What's the implication of this? Those of us who need to rely on people using the wiki and 'playing nice' end up taking more and more time to show people it's true value before we get any value from it.

Before the Government as a whole or departments start to implement or expand on new technology, the investment in communication, outreach and engagement needs to be made. We've been at the mercy of the Ronco "set it and forget" it approach for too long.

My hats off to any department who has a division dedicated to internal engagement and outreach. I'd love to know if one exists!!

Onward
@mjmclean