Background on Wikis
Striving for timely and reliable information we want to be connected, updated and heard. Collaborative technologies enable us to create virtual communities that share information, combine knowledge and coordinate efforts.
The word wiki is derived from the Hawaiian term wiki wiki, which means “quick” or “fast.” Wikipedia defines a wiki as “a type of website that allows users to add, remove, or otherwise edit and change all content very quickly and easily, sometimes without the need for registration” (June 28, 2006). The use of these capabilities by various groups of users can be controlled through configuration.
In some cases Wiki technology can eliminate or reduce Web publishing bottlenecks that may be caused, for example, when a webmaster must approve website content. In these cases an organization can reduce the time and overhead to publish collaborative information.
While there are currently many commercial wiki products, wikis started and are still available as open source technology - free and easy to install software. An individual or organization can create a wiki with three freely available components: Linux, Apache Server, and MediaWiki software. The combination of agility and accessibility makes wiki a potential solution for some NIH collaboration requirements..
NIH Wiki Working Group
To research wiki applicability and use at NIH, the NIH Office of the Chief IT Architect commissioned a trans-NIH Wiki Working Group. The group reviewed various wiki sites within the government, educational, and commercial sectors; conducted wiki user survey in the NIH community; performed market research analysis; reviewed Federal and agency specific governance guidelines; and researched wiki best practices. The group also developed and issued a request for information (RFI) for wiki solutions.
The NIH Wiki Working Group identified several potential applications for wiki technology at NIH, including knowledge repositories, project coordination, training and education, virtual meetings, vocabulary development, information sharing, and many others.
Based on analysis of initial user scenarios the group identified some potential risks. For example, the inherent open nature of wikis may degrade the reliability of information and the policy compliance leading to violation of public trust in NIH. The lack of a common vocabulary may result in inconsistent site structures, inefficient searches, and duplication of information available through other, existing information sources, which may ultimately lead to confusion for users and a decrease in the credibility of existing information sources. Sensitive information and intellectual property require special attention in this open environment. The detailed description of all identified risks and their mitigations can be found in the Wiki Working Group Final Report.1
Based on the analysis of the research findings, including purpose, content scope, users, risks, and the technical capabilities, the Wiki Working Group recommended that NIH proceed with the implementation of wikis for NIH-internal collaboration and for users with an NIH Login. This approach ensures accountability for published content and reduces the overhead required for wiki auditing and management. The group further recommended that the best practices for externally accessible wikis require further analysis before sanctioning publicly available wikis.
Wikis at NIH and Other Federal Agencies
Some NIH organizations are already using wiki technology. Some wikis support small software development projects and other miscellaneous collaboration efforts. Extramural collaboration wikis are hosted externally and contain project coordination, meeting agendas, presentations and discussions, e.g.
CRA-NIH Computing Research Challenges in Biomedicine Workshop and
The National Alliance for Medical Imaging Computing (NA-MIC). Other NIH organizations have been exploring the topic of making the job of wiki designers easier by creating a design pattern library. To view a video or PDF containing content on this topic, go to NIH Wiki on Wikis.
Other Federal agencies are actively exploring or already using wikis. For example, COLAB: Collaborative Work Environment Community Wiki, supported by the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Intergovernmental Solutions, is a collaborative work environment (CWE) for communities of interest. It serves as a portal into other wikis, including the Chief Architects Forum, Ontology CWE, and many others.
For questions about the Wiki Working Group Final Report, contact us.
1Requires NIH Login.
