A (closer) look at collaboration using wikis

Purpose – Wikis have been gaining attention in the practitioner and academic literature, suggesting their use as knowledge repositories in organizational environments and even as collaborative tools for reviewing scholarly publications. And yet, little is known about factors that foster or discourage use of this technology. The purpose of this paper is to take a closer look at collaboration using wikis. Design/methodology/approach – The authors look at an academic exercise using wikis in a college classroom to leverage collaboration among students. Taking elements from similar artifacts such as groupware technology, this research evaluates a model that explores the significance of perceptions of complexity and critical mass on wiki adoption. Findings – Results show a strong acceptance of wikis among students despite not being familiar with this type of technology. Furthermore, outcomes show that students were influenced by the actions taken collectively by their peers, resulting in improved collaboration and participation. Originality/value – The paper offers new insights into the subject of collaboration using wikis.