Publications
Publications
- February 2007 (Revised February 2007)
- HBS Case Collection
Wikipedia (A)
By: Karim R. Lakhani and Andrew P. McAfee
Abstract
Wikipedia has emerged as a robust model for content production by volunteers working asynchronously on the Internet with a unconventional model for distributed decision making. The "Articles for Deletion" process in Wikipedia provides unique insight into the inner workings of a distributed community. Wikipedia administrators have to decide if an article on "Enterprise 2.0" should be deleted, kept or merged with some other article. The episode illustrates broader issues of IT-enabled community mobilization and engagement in distributed setting.
Keywords
Information Publishing; Information Management; Internet and the Web; Information Technology; Globalization; Service Delivery; Knowledge Sharing; Knowledge Management; Information Industry; Information Technology Industry
Citation
Lakhani, Karim R., and Andrew P. McAfee. "Wikipedia (A)." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Case 607-712, February 2007. (Revised February 2007.)