Wiki is a website that allows collaborative modification of its content and structure via the web browser. A blog is a website that allows discussion or post of information in diary style text entries. In order to view the wiki's content the user has to be "accepted" by the wiki creator, whereas the post that are published on blogs can be viewed by the public. Wiki is most commonly used for group projects and group editing. A blog is most commonly used for individual project, virtual proposals and peer review and feedback.
I believe that convergence is extremely important in today's world; it allows people to broaden their horizons, deepen their knowledge and to expose themselves to other aspects. We can learn a lot from each other's thoughts, opinions and ideas.
The primary way to use blogs as a collaborative tool is by using it in classrooms and discussions. Technology is already a huge part of our everyday life, we might as well take advantage of it and use it for educational purposes. It allows students/ users to post their ideas and opinions in a familiar way and to be reviewed by their peers.
I am not sure that wikis have already entered the business world entirely, but reading through Ezra Goonoe's article I believe that it is an excellent idea that will benefit the users and the company. It will allow the company to maximize its employees' knowledge. Each employee can contribute to the discussion/project at hand without the need of a fancy technical software or a deep technological knowledge. It is simple and efficient. "Wikis are designed to facilitate the exchange of information within and between teams. Content in a wiki can be updated without any real lag, without any real administrative effort, and without the need for distribution — users/contributors (with wikis, they're one and the same) simply visit and update a common Web site" (Goonoe). The Harvard Business Review also wrote about the importance of wikis in the business world. Gardiner Morder, a senior editor at the Harvard Business Review believed that "Pretty much any sort of knowledge sharing that is enhanced by open, flexible, rapid collaboration, particularly in contexts where people are separated geographically and relationship-building is important". The article also brings up the "negative" use of wikis. According to Morse it makes the management uncomfortable due to the fact that the wikis allow them to solve problems by themselves instead of waiting for clear instructions.
