JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science 14(4): 526-545, doi: 10.3217/jucs-014-04-0526
Analyzing Wiki-based Networks to Improve Knowledge Processes in Organizations
expand article infoClaudia Müller‡, Benedikt Meuthrath‡, Anne Baumgra߇
‡ University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

Corresponding author: Claudia Müller ( cmueller@wi.uni-potsdam.de )

© Claudia Müller, Benedikt Meuthrath, Anne Baumgraß.
This article is freely available under the J.UCS Open Content License.
Citation: Müller C, Meuthrath B, Baumgraß A (2008) Analyzing Wiki-based Networks to Improve Knowledge Processes in Organizations. JUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science 14(4): 526-545. https://doi.org/10.3217/jucs-014-04-0526
Open Access
Abstract
Increasingly wikis are used to support existing corporate knowledge exchange processes. They are an appropriate software solution to support knowledge processes. However, it is not yet proven whether wikis are an adequate knowledge management tool or not. This paper presents a new approach to analyze existing knowledge exchange processes in wikis based on network analysis. Because of their dynamic characteristics four perspectives on wiki networks are introduced to investigate the interrelationships between people, information, and events in a wiki information space. As an analysis method the Social Network Analysis (SNA) is applied to uncover existing structures and temporal changes. A scenario data set of an analysis conducted with a corporate wiki is presented. The outcomes of this analysis were utilized to improve the existing corporate knowledge processes.
Keywords
social software, wiki, knowledge work, network analysis, collaboration network