7 Components: the Function Pages - Developers

� Through their openness, wikis promote transparency and provide
an overview. Problems or faulty developments can be identified
and discussed at an early stage.
� Wikis offer a simple, uniform system in which ideas can be collected.
This can counteract a strict isolation of work groups and
promote networked thinking.
� While several versions of a single document can circulate in a
project, with wiki technology, it is possible to offer participants
central access to the current version of a document.
� Wikis adapt themselves very rapidly to a project and mirror its
project dynamics.
� The versatility of a single piece of software offers the opportunity
to use it as a central publication and organizational system.
The wiki system serves as a uniform administrative and reporting
system, among other uses, in which decision processes or
progress reports may be documented immediately.
� At the same time, the wiki enables a decentralized organizational
structure which can cut down channels and work times.
Editing, publishing and documentation concur in a single work
step. For instance, content must not first be approved by an
Internet editor before going online.
If you decide to work with a wiki, you will have to accept the following
peculiarities:
� Based on the current state of development, wiki technology is
not comparable to specially tailored, expensive project software.
It offers no finished project templates, automation in process
control, human resources planning or financial administration. It
still lacks sufficient tools for scheduling and appointment planning.
� The decentralized hypertext structure can lead to initial coordination
and acceptance problems. In the case of larger projects,
complexities frequently arise that must be minimized. This
means that navigation bars and overview pages must be conceived
and maintained.
� Since a wiki offers so much freedom, it requires more attention
and self-discipline from its participants. For example, they must
adhere to stipulated conventions so that others can also quickly
find the right information within the wiki. In addition, it is necessary
to think beyond one's own work area with a view to co-
17.2 TWiki as a Project Tool
Problems
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