What Else Ya Got?
What else? What else? Oh, I’ve got else. You haven’t even seen “else” until you’ve seen MY “else”.
One More Gripe
As far as content management systems (CMSs) go, different applications need to match different purposes. While I am a self-confessed WordPress fanboy, I will freely admit that it’s not ideal for use in every situation*. I wouldn’t use WordPress for anything other than blogging, really; it wouldn’t be good for getting a lot of information across when the information doesn’t benefit from the context of being in chronological order.
Where this is going
And, I wouldn’t use a wiki in a situation where one organisation is meant to be an authority on a subject. I think it undermines the credibility of that organisation when their advice and support is actually community advice and support.
The AHS’s use of a wiki comes under this category, I think. I don’t like it very much as a public front. As a private working ground, I love it. But as the end product of our thinking? It’s just a bad idea.
End.
*Does this still make me a fanboy? I feel like one, with the hoody…
on November 19th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Agreed, a Wiki is a perfect knowledge management tool for organizations. But as a public front, it is a foolish idea. A much more moderated approach is needed if it is to be useful in the long term.
Make a private Wiki, then have a public one that can only be modified by a select few, taking articles from the private one if and when they are suitable enough. I don’t want to hear how this circumvents the whole purpose of a Wiki, but would be necessary thanks to the nature of what would be in said Wiki.
on November 19th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Right, exactly. Even if you misuse the wiki software to get the right effect, it’s better than leaving it open all the time. But ideally there would be some better CMS that’s easy for non-techies to use (for, why should updating content be left to just those with the technical skill when it could come from those with the knowledge), but looks from the outside as though it doesn’t undergo CMS-style editing.
Perhaps some custom piece of software…
on November 19th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Well, the wiki never was a public front for the AHS. The AHS website will be that. The wiki was a place for for the community on Secular Portal to share ideas and information in a non-chronological way. Any “official” AHS information will in due course be canonised and added to the AHS website is non-editable form.
on November 19th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Well that’s fine then. Got no more issues so far.