Alex Rivera | Logout

Getting developers to use a wiki

Asked 2008-08-19T07:57:20.100
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I work on a complex application where different teams work on their own modules with a degree of overlap. A while back we got a Mediawiki instance set up, partly at my prompting. I have a hard job getting people to actually use it, let alone contribute.

I can see a lot of benefit in sharing information. It may at least reduce the times we reinvent the wheel.

The wiki is not very structured, but I'm not sure that is a problem as long as you can search for what you need.

Any hints?

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I have done some selling and even run some training sessions. I think some people are turned off by the lack of WYSIWYG editing and ability to paste formatted text from Word or Outlook. I know there are some tools to work around these, but they are still barriers.

There are some areas where the wiki is being used to log certain areas, but people who update those are not doing anything else with it.

I will use the wiki to document my specialised area regardless as it acts as a convenient brain extension. When starting a new development I use it as a notepad for ideas that I can expand on as it progresses.

It would help if management would give it some vocal support, even if it is not made mandatory.

answered 2008-08-19T08:11:36.700

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