Week 3 Prompt

What uses might a collaborative wiki or blog have in your chosen (current or desired) work environment? How would they support learning and/or performance? What would be the design and implementation challenges if management tried to do this? What would be the design and implementation challenges of a user-initiated effort?

In the Coast Guard, I think there are several opportunities of wikis and blogs but due to security reasons might be more regulated than other work environments. Many units in the Coast Guard have a unit blog which is run by the unit Public Affairs officer and distributes information about what the unit is doing and valuable information for personnel reporting to the unit.

The Coast Guard actually has an official blog called The Coast Guard Compass: http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/

This blog focuses on connected the public to the Coast Guard’s missions and personnel.  This blog support learning and performance from a variety of angles as it educates the public on what is going on in the Coast Guard and also increases knowledge flow throughout the USCG personnel.

I also found guidance from the Coast Guard on how blogs should be implemented in the Coast Guard and was surprised to see that BLOGGER.COM (section 4.E of http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcoast/008-10_alcoast.tx) is the only approved site, which is what I chose for my class blog without realizing the connection. I think this article highlights some of the design and implementation challenges for using blogs in my workplace and I am sure other organizations have their own policy in regard to their uses.  Did anyone else find there present or past organization had guidance policies for implementing social media sites such as blogs?

I have never used a wiki in the Coast Guard before but from my coursework experience with Wiki it could be beneficial to team projects, setting up duty rotations, department work lists, or preparing for inspections and large events. All these things require input from several individuals, collaboration and coordination.

When I tried to find information of the Coast Guard’s use of wiki’s, I found this really great article on Social Media in the Coast Guard.

http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/spring2010/articles/73_Migliorini,Day_SocialMedia.pdf

This article highlights Coast Guard involvement with several social media tools including YouTube, Flicker, Twitter, Facebook and several official blogs. Definitely an interesting read!