Melcrum - Connecting Communicators
Alex ManchesterThe Social Media Newsletter
August 20th, 2007 Using wikis for knowledge sharing at Shell

Welcome to the Melcrum Social Media Newsletter.

As a global organization, knowledge and experience is vital to Shell’s success. In order to further the organization’s knowledge-sharing capabilities, Shell launched the “Shell Wiki” in 2006, and the number of wiki users is increasing by 100 per day.

“The global knowledge management (KM) team is closely monitoring this phenomenal new approach to sharing knowledge that can be captured in written form,” says Donna Hendrix, senior KM analyst at Shell. 

Why the wiki?
“The wiki provides operational business know-how as well as general knowledge on the Shell organization and the underlying encyclopedia concept provides integration across disciplines and even sectors,” says Hendrix. “The wiki is also used extensively by learning leaders in delivering course materials to the larger Shell Open University student body (SOU).”

One piece of the puzzle
As part of its wider KM strategy, the Shell Wiki is just one tool alongside a custom built Community of Practice program called SIGN (Shell International Global Networks) and a comprehensive information and tool database called Metis.

Employees can also use other tools and applications if they wish. “Shell’s global KM team doesn’t discourage individuals who choose to use other information and search tools, such as Google or its competitors,” says Hendrix. “The emphasis is mainly to encourage behaviors that promote informal learning, knowledge sharing and competence building and connect people via the content they contribute.”

You can read more about Shell's practices in the Delivering Successful Change Communication report.

Best regards,

Alex Manchester
Editor
alex.manchester@melcrum.com


This week's Melcrum headlines:

Google Alerts - quality!
- The Black Belt Dojo - 17 August 2007

Homewood Suites and staff learning via iPod
- The Melcrum Blog - 17 August 2007

Texting employees
- The Communicators' Network - 10 August 2007