IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Welcome
to the Virtual Enterprise
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
WHAT THIS CLASS IS ABOUT
Put simply, the class is about collaboration. Which is to say that a
Virtual Enterprise is about collaboration.
The advent of new technologies has always had an impact on our
species’ ability to collaborate, from the invention of paper and printed
symbols, to the printing press, to the telephone, to the computer, and
ultimately (at least for now) to the World Wide Web.
So the in 420 class this term, we will examine, play with, and evaluate
the newest generation of collaboration tools, such as wikis,
groupware and virtual worlds.
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
YOUR DELIVERABLES
A paper which evaluates the potential of virtual environments for
business/education.
Plus your input on certain key issues we will identity during the next
few weeks. For example: Should JSU purchase an island in
SecondLife, There, or some other virtual environment in order to
explore the virtual environment potential further?
Should future 420 classes continue in this VERY experimental vein?
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/course-materials/second-life/
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Some things you will need to own or have access to.
- high-speed Internet connectivity
- a headset with a microphone, or speakers and a microphone
There were times in the history of the world where stability
reigned for ages. Then came dramatic moments of change
called paradigm shifts or a punctuated equilibrium.
Barring some world calamity, that era seems to be over and it
seems to me we are in a time of perpetual and accelerating
change. And you will constantly deal with new business
paradigms.
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Even though it’s a relatively new term, (or perhaps because of it) the
definition of a ‘virtual enterprise’ is changing/evolving.
The chief reason for this is the Web.
On the IME420 website, I describe it as a “a new organization for the 21st
century, enabled by new information technologies and evolving to
compete in a global economy”
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Categories of Virtual Enterprises
TRADITIONAL
These are enterprises that use
technology tools to collaborate
across time and distance.
For example: between distant
offices across multiple time
zones; or between noncollocated employees
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Categories of Virtual Enterprises
CONTEMPORARY
Enterprises which have a
presence in a virtual
environment.
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
The Web is powering this change
Increased bandwidth
Greater network capability
Access to billions of people
Access to new ideas
Access to new tools
- tools to collaborate
- tools to create
- tools to manage
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Web evolution from a user experience
Initially – look and read – (Brochureware/green screen)
Then – participate – Shop, purchase, interact
Then (now) – participate in production, content development
Next – the immersive Web, full immersion into the Web environment
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
To a large extent the workplace has always been about
collaboration.
Today, the ability to integrate the talents of dispersed individuals and
organizations is becoming the defining competency for managers
and firms (Wikinomics, 2007).
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
Definitions
Avatar: An Incarnation; An electronic image that both represents
and is manipulated by a computer user.
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IME420 The Virtual Enterprise
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