Gartner has the following best practice recommendations for managing the transition between the two working styles:

• Don’t force the issue, if users prefer a particular model, tread carefully when introducing a new one.
• Explain the business reasons for the choices made. If necessary, consider offering alternatives for particular situations where the lack of user acceptance will endanger the success of the project.
• Recognise what each model is good for and adopt accordingly.
• Don’t blindly assume that one or the other will fit every situation.
• Examine the hybrid models some products support.
• Most products are not wholly file-oriented or entirely Web 2.0. Make sure that users know about the features they will find attractive or useful.

Gartner analysts will host a number of sessions on collaboration and social software at Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2009, 2-5 November, in Cannes, France. For more information please visit http://www.gartner.com/technology/symposium/2009/esc21/home.jsp

Additional information is available in the Gartner report “Wikis and Documents Represent Different Ways of Working." The report is available on Gartner’s website at http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?ref=g_search&id=1154212&subref=simplesearch.