By there very nature, wikis are more open ended and flexible than discussion forums. However this is the source of both the strengths and weaknesses of wikis. Enabling anyone to add or edit any part of the document allows for ideas to become more and more refined over time. It is easier to end up with a finished product that incorporates all of the best ideas and without other distracting text. While the same thing can happen in a discussion forum, it generates a string of ideas rather than a single collection. These threads require frequent summarizing which can be come repetitive or can even result in valuable ideas being missed altogether.
The free form nature of the wiki is also its biggest drawback. Without the forced structure of a forum it is up to members to control the format. If there are multiple editors it can become unwieldy and confusing if everyone does not follow the same structural guidelines. Overall I would tend to think that wikis are better suited for smaller groups.
One reply on “wiki wiki”
Well said!