Wikinomics : Suggestions

On this page we can suggest improvements to wikinomics.

You can use the comment function to post a question, and the edit to help form an answer.

Playbook Publication Forum
Q: Is there a medium by which we (everyone who would like to be involved in the 'Playbook' pub) could meet up and discuss a potential outline?
-Felix

A: Yes, the editorial board has a listserve. Felix, you will be receiving an invite!

Q: Is there "edit comment" field on the edit page like in wikipedia?
contributed by Mike Turner on Feb 14 6:38pm

A: It is always helpful to have edit comments when a page is revised, unfortunately this is not supported in the same way using a socialtext wiki. In mediawiki (wikipedia) the edit comment is listed with the specific revision on the history page and not at the bottom of the content. It might be a good guideline to say that the comments button should should be reserved for discussion about the subject matter not a specific edit.

Q: What is the purpose of this wiki? Are we helping the authors to compile a Missing Chapter to the book Wikinomics? If so, will it be published in some permanent print medium? Or are we adding anecdotes, insights, theories, observations that reinforce the value of collaborative workspaces like wikis?

contributed by Steven Streight on Feb 17 12:53am
contributed by Renee Stiles on Feb 18 5:26am

A: Yes, we are working toward a work which will be published in Fall 2007. This wiki should be as a supplemental volume, an expansion of the book chapters and an appendix of sorts. It should also be a springboard for evolving sequels, especially in the effort to provide details and instances of government, education, and other non-commerce applications of wikis.

For more information see: The Wikinomics Playbook Project

Q: On the "What's New" page, can we make it so the "Last edited by" names are links to the profile pages, so we can learn more about a specific editor?

contributed by Steven Streight on Feb 21 10:01pm

A: That would be a great idea. Lets see if we can make it work in socialtext.

Maybe I am working this point too hard, but I believe a wiki should be operated like a "pull" system, like Lean Manufacturing , aka, the Toyota plant floor. Instead of creating "chapeters" or "headings" like Prosumers, then "pushing" seeded content to be edited, the "customers" (Wikiominics Staff?) should only ask for what they want in that section. For example, under the heading Wikis Beyond Business, they might write: Please first create a list of potential uses in education, government, crisis intervention, etc. with some small amount of descriptive text. When that list seems broad enough, have someone weave the information together in a fashion similar to a proposal or article, using the third person if possible. Please delete these instruction at that time.
Do the same for the other headings, but display all section in roughly the antipated, desired sequence so redundant content can be removed from the later entries. Do people feel that is somehow cheating?

Oh, and if by linking the blog to the word "pull" above was not proper copywrite-wise, tell me.

contributed by kaboboom on Feb 22 7:38pm

amajer writes: I really like that suggestion. Is there a particular page/entry where we could try this at (maybe starting with wikis beyond business as you suggest)? Perhaps either a page that's overly wordy to get ideas on how to focus it, or maybe a mostly-blank entry that could use some guidance? I'm giving this a shot at the playbook page, but perhaps we can come up with a list of several other pages to test this with too.

A: We can do pretty much exactly that with a meta text box at the top of each page. See guidelines.

Q: Why so many rules? If we have too many rules here, that might inhibit people from contributing.

contributed by Steven Streight on Feb 23 6:06am

A: In our beginners guide, we say that everyone should be bold, our guidelines were made to be broken. Beginners especially should feel and enjoy the privilege of doing whatever the heck they want. Think of every page as your personal dumping ground. Somebody elses will clean up. Somebody else will link to a relevant article. Someone else adds a few remarks about it. Another one creates a list, while a different person tosses in a relevant photo or link to a PDF or podcast. Then somehow that raw content is sifted and weighed, juggled around, as chapters evolve, merge, shift. Ultimately someone will think, "What do we have here?" and attempt to organize it and see where certain paths lead. That is the beauty of a wiki, the contents have fluid boundaries, both internally and extermally, and anything can take shape, perhaps unexpectedly, the organic process of data accumulation, revision, and structuring. Wikis are ideal places for spontaneous order and creative destruction. If the guidelines or instructions are wrong rewrite them!

I like the literal interpretation of "playbook" as a way of imagining what this "chapter" could look like. It'd be great to get down to brass tacks on what strategies/tactics work, hear about relevant real-life examples that people have been involved with, and any advice or lessons they've learned as a result. This community of readers and contributors collectively hold many of the "how to" answers, and it'd be great to start bubbling them to the surface... perhaps this could be a mini DIY handbook for wikinomics. I'm not sure what list of tactics the playbook might include: but experimenting with a wiki within the wall of an organization (or outside of it) is probably a great place to start. I've already found this experience as a newbie wiki participant very illuminating, and looking forward to learning much more!

contributed by amajer on Feb 26 7:36pm

Q: If the "thing" is supposed to be a book that will be published and distributed in some way, an editor would employ a particular editing approach, particularly if there is some end date in sight. For an example of a "wiki" that is geared towards producing a physical publication, please check out Joseph Jaffe's ""Join the Conversation. That project had a definite beginning, middle and end, and the book is clearly meant for publication. Is there a "freeze" date on contributions?
Contributed by David Levy

A: Yes, for inclusion in the Published Playbook, contributions must be made before August 1 2007.

Q: Is Self promotion allowed? Should this Wiki be subject to similar rules of social interaction that are in place in other Wikis, such as http://www.wikipeida.com Wikipedia. As a specific example, the rule that the Wiki is not a place to advertise a product, service, or website that someone has a direct connection with. On the opening page of the "[playbook]", one user posted a website name. After visiting this site, it was evident that the site does not currently match with the theme of the context within the playbook nor was it on par with the other example given. Can such material that is an obvious cry to "visit my website" be edited?

What are the guidelines?

contributed by tetfsu on May 3 11:00am

A: A Userpage can be used to self promote. Other pages in wikinomics are to be edited to conform with the "community interest". Sometimes it is definitely appropriate to link to an outside site, product or service. Such examples however, need to be subject to Neutral Point of View - and be reviewed objectively (by all participants). "Marketing speak" should be avoided or edited out. see the guidelines for more about wikinomics community's self generated ruleset.

Are you interested in a section on using wiki's in education? I have been using them since 2002 for face-to-face, online courses, teacher training, etc. Susan Garza, Associate Professor of English, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

contributed by Susan Garza on Jun 2 6:31pm

I would be interested in a discussion on how to implement the principles of wikinomics in an educational (non-profit) setting. How can these principles improve learning, not just "achievement"?