Wiki-enabled emergent knowledge processes through acceleration of stigmergic collaboration
Zhong Wu Yu · 2009
As we move further into a knowledge economy, many processes can be labelled as “emergent knowledge processes” (Markus et al. 2002; Majchrzak 2006). These processes involve building knowledge in an unstructured and dynamic manner through diverse human participation. Unfortunately, such processes are generally not well supported by existing IT systems, such as executive information systems, expert systems or electronic communication systems (Davenport 2005; McAfee 2006; Wagner 2006). To address the unique requirements of IT systems supporting emergent knowledge processes, this study proposes and evaluates the use of wiki technology and the “wiki way” of collaboration (Leuf and Cunningham 2001; Reinhart 2005). As such, it combines a design theoretic approach (Markus et al. 2002) with an empirical evaluation. This research addresses the collaboration in wikis through a new lens by viewing a wiki and its participants as an emergent complex system. Previous work, in contrast, has primarily focused on understanding contributors’ activities from a psychological or internal community perspective. This dissertation draws on the literature of stigmergic collaboration (Grasse 1959; Parunak 2005) which establishes that individuals can collaborate without direct communication if the work product itself represents or contains coordination stimuli. Based on stigmergic theory, the research demonstrates the wiki way as a promising alternative to achieve more effective emergent knowledge processes through the application and acceleration of the mechanism of stigmergy. Stigmergy distinctively relies on the iterative interaction of agent and environment through ongoing and mutual modification or stimulation (Marsh and