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The successionwiki: a comprehensive online lexicon for business transfer
Published on 24 September 2018
Germany
Berlin
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The succession-wiki as a comprehensive digital online reference guidebook gives an overview of four main topics:
(1) transfer of a company (handing over as a senior)
(2) internal succession (within a family of family network)
(3) external succession (buyers, employees)
(4) General Aspects concerning people who seek information (e.g. advisors, students, policy-makers)
The wiki contains multiple core topics and has around 400 unique articles written in a widely gender-neutral language, tries to respect a quite technical-free language and explains with illustrations, practical links and many quotes of practitioners.
The successionwiki offers a free-for-all access (no login or registration is required, and it is free). Since business succession is seen as a sensitive topic, anonymity of user-data is of utmost importance for the trustworthiness of the wiki.
Special co-authors are selected by the core-writing-team to add their unique knowledge to the wiki-project. This enables a wide range of topics and detailed information on a complex topic. A key element is the didactical approach the wiki tries to achieve. It does not focus primarily on challenges or on what could all go wrong during succession. The wiki tries to qualify by suggesting workarounds, free templates for check-lists, calculation-sheets, emergency-planning-tools and links to qualified and experienced advisory partners.
(1) transfer of a company (handing over as a senior)
(2) internal succession (within a family of family network)
(3) external succession (buyers, employees)
(4) General Aspects concerning people who seek information (e.g. advisors, students, policy-makers)
The wiki contains multiple core topics and has around 400 unique articles written in a widely gender-neutral language, tries to respect a quite technical-free language and explains with illustrations, practical links and many quotes of practitioners.
The successionwiki offers a free-for-all access (no login or registration is required, and it is free). Since business succession is seen as a sensitive topic, anonymity of user-data is of utmost importance for the trustworthiness of the wiki.
Special co-authors are selected by the core-writing-team to add their unique knowledge to the wiki-project. This enables a wide range of topics and detailed information on a complex topic. A key element is the didactical approach the wiki tries to achieve. It does not focus primarily on challenges or on what could all go wrong during succession. The wiki tries to qualify by suggesting workarounds, free templates for check-lists, calculation-sheets, emergency-planning-tools and links to qualified and experienced advisory partners.
Resources needed
Three dimensions are needed:
(1)
Content requirements: a group of people with a professional background in economics (focus on SME).
(2)
Technical requirements: a website that hosts a Mediawiki (free to use) platform to create the basic elements for a wiki.
(3)
An initial structure.
(1)
Content requirements: a group of people with a professional background in economics (focus on SME).
(2)
Technical requirements: a website that hosts a Mediawiki (free to use) platform to create the basic elements for a wiki.
(3)
An initial structure.
Evidence of success
We have around 1000 unique visits on the wiki per week with an average time spent of 4 minutes per user. The wiki has multiple authors and has been referenced on websites, publications and articles (over 500 times).
Potential for learning or transfer
Information accessibility is the key for learning. The wiki not only provides knowledge and references about the topic of business succession but also creates a lot of data left by users. This creates a unique pattern of what kind of knowledge successors in regions, or potential buyers need. With this knowledge the wiki can be edited and address specific needs accordingly.
An added benefit can be seen in a visible and large public network and a presentation platform for all who are involved with succession planning to illustrate a detailed scope of the issue.
An added benefit can be seen in a visible and large public network and a presentation platform for all who are involved with succession planning to illustrate a detailed scope of the issue.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Berlin School of Economics and Law
Germany
Berlin
Contact