Can Dos and Won’t Can Dos and Won’t Dos: Virtually No Dos: Virtually No CertaintiesCertaintiesELISE CUMMINGSELISE CUMMINGS

What is a virtual world?What is a virtual world?

A virtual world is a 2-D or 3-D web-based A virtual world is a 2-D or 3-D web-based simulation of real-world events.simulation of real-world events.

Uses “avatars,” which are digital Uses “avatars,” which are digital representations of people. These may or may representations of people. These may or may not look like the person controlling the avatar.not look like the person controlling the avatar.

The purpose is to interact with people like one The purpose is to interact with people like one would in “real life.”would in “real life.”

More and more businesses are using virtual More and more businesses are using virtual worlds to conduct business.worlds to conduct business.

Example of virtual Example of virtual worldsworldsSECOND LIFESECOND LIFE

Prevalence of virtual Prevalence of virtual worlds and businessworlds and business

Businesses like IBM, Cisco and Intel use virtual Businesses like IBM, Cisco and Intel use virtual worlds to conduct business.worlds to conduct business.

A recent article cites that 15-20% of the A recent article cites that 15-20% of the 200,000 users of Second Life use the service 200,000 users of Second Life use the service for business. for business.

44% of IBM’s employees work outside the 44% of IBM’s employees work outside the traditional office.traditional office.

A 2011 article cites that 60% of businesses A 2011 article cites that 60% of businesses surveyed planned to implement virtual worlds surveyed planned to implement virtual worlds into their business model that year.into their business model that year.

Reasons for virtual Reasons for virtual businessbusiness

Collaborating Collaborating across physical across physical borders and borders and locationslocations

Money-saving Money-saving opportunities by opportunities by conducting conducting business onlinebusiness online

Cuts out the Cuts out the “middle man” and “middle man” and fosters more fosters more communicationcommunication

Reasons for virtual Reasons for virtual businessbusiness

Less sick days Less sick days taken by taken by employees employees because of less because of less stressstress

Environmental Environmental benefits because of benefits because of less commutingless commuting

Less company Less company overheadoverhead

Virtual business consVirtual business cons

Stealing intellectual Stealing intellectual propertyproperty

Risk of losing trust Risk of losing trust by not “knowing” by not “knowing” co-workersco-workers

““Under the table” Under the table” activity like bets, activity like bets, bribes and money bribes and money launderinglaundering

Virtual business consVirtual business cons

Workers are Workers are required to be self-required to be self-motivated, which is motivated, which is not always the casenot always the case

Decrease in Decrease in interpersonal interpersonal relationships and relationships and social interactionssocial interactions

That is why we will That is why we will implement a code of implement a code of conduct/integrity policy.conduct/integrity policy.

Policy “can dos”Policy “can dos”

Virtual worlds will be used for collaborating and Virtual worlds will be used for collaborating and working together. working together.

Virtual worlds will be used for events and online Virtual worlds will be used for events and online meetings.meetings.

Virtual worlds will be used to present mock-ups Virtual worlds will be used to present mock-ups of products, presentations and other business of products, presentations and other business and marketing materials.and marketing materials.

Virtual worlds will be used to communicate with Virtual worlds will be used to communicate with co-workers and customers.co-workers and customers.

Policy “won’t dos”Policy “won’t dos”Workers will not engage in “under the table” Workers will not engage in “under the table” activities such as bribes, bets, money activities such as bribes, bets, money laundering, money trading or other illegal laundering, money trading or other illegal activities.activities.

Sexual favors, illicit sexual acts and sexual Sexual favors, illicit sexual acts and sexual innuendoes will not be tolerated.innuendoes will not be tolerated.

Workers must present their avatars in a Workers must present their avatars in a professional manner, and must be their “real professional manner, and must be their “real life” gender.life” gender.

Racial slurs or innuendoes will not be tolerated Racial slurs or innuendoes will not be tolerated in any way.in any way.

Return on investmentReturn on investmentCisco cites five ways that businesses will gain Cisco cites five ways that businesses will gain extensive ROI on engaging in a virtual world:extensive ROI on engaging in a virtual world:

Reduce costs for energy, hardware and floor Reduce costs for energy, hardware and floor spacespace

Save on staffing IT repsSave on staffing IT reps

Decrease system downtime, which gives Decrease system downtime, which gives peace of mindpeace of mind

Disaster recovery is more efficientDisaster recovery is more efficient

Overall business is more efficient and agileOverall business is more efficient and agile

ReferencesReferences

http://nvate.com/5381/second-life-meetings/http://nvate.com/5381/second-life-meetings/

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/resource_center/articles/do_business_better/the_roi_of_virtualization/index.htmlhttp://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/solutions/small_business/resource_center/articles/do_business_better/the_roi_of_virtualization/index.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rayanne-thorn/virtual-office_b_1696098.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/rayanne-thorn/virtual-office_b_1696098.html

http://thedigitalnomads.co.uk/2012/02/20/8-ways-you-can-use-virtual-worlds-for-business/http://thedigitalnomads.co.uk/2012/02/20/8-ways-you-can-use-virtual-worlds-for-business/

http://gigaom.com/2011/06/01/virtual-http://gigaom.com/2011/06/01/virtual-environments-for-training-collaboration-and-environments-for-training-collaboration-and-meetings/meetings/