IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Jun 2013 Open Access

Professional Virtual Worlds Supporting Computer-Mediated Communication, Collaboration, and Learning in Geographically Distributed Contexts

Petra M. Bosch-Sijtsema ; Anu Sivunen Aalto University

Abstract

Research problem: Although much research exists on virtual worlds, very few studies focus on professional virtual worlds used for working in a global setting. Research questions: (1) How do global managers currently use and experience professional virtual worlds (Virtual Worlds) as a communication media for global work? and (2) How do these Virtual Worlds support global and professional communication in a geographically distributed context? Literature review: We reviewed Virtual World literature in the area of social sciences, education, and games. Little research has been conducted on Virtual Worlds for workgroups. But those studies support the assumption that Virtual Worlds are suitable for global distributed work as a collaboration and communication medium. Methodology: With an explorative and qualitative interview research approach, we conducted 47 semi-structured interviews with virtual world vendors, researchers, and managers using virtual worlds in their work. Data were analyzed based on Grounded Theory Analysis methods. Results and conclusions: The results show four different use cases applied for professional Virtual Worlds: small team meetings, trainings, community building, and conferences. Furthermore, our findings confirm Virtual World literature that states that the professional Virtual World as a communication and collaboration tool supports geographically distributed work as well as visualization and learning in a global context.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2013-06-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2012.2237256
CompPile
Open Access
OA PDF Green
Topics
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Clayson (2018)
    Distributed writing as a lens for examining writing as embodied practice
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Davison et al. (2017)
    Establishing Effective Global Virtual Student Teams
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

References (59) · 2 in this index

  1. 10.1080/01449290010020693
     ↗
  2. 10.5465/amle.2010.0048
     ↗
  3. bronack (2008)
    Presence pedagogy: Teaching and learning in a 3D virtual immersive world
    International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
  4. 10.1007/s00268-007-9354-2
     ↗
  5. 10.1162/pres.15.6.699
     ↗
Show all 59 →
  1. 10.1162/105474600566600
     ↗
  2. (2010)
    Virtual Environments for Corporate Education Employee Learning and Solutions
  3. pollitt (2007)
    Learn-while-you-play program gets IBM recruits up to speed
    Human Res Manage Int Dig  ↗
  4. 10.1177/1534484311406421
     ↗
  5. 10.1016/j.chb.2007.01.009
     ↗
  6. 10.1089/109493101300117956
     ↗
  7. 10.1080/15213260902849943
     ↗
  8. 10.1162/105474603321640932
     ↗
  9. 10.1016/j.jm.2004.05.002
     ↗
  10. (2002)
    Distributed Work
  11. 10.1177/1046496410388946
     ↗
  12. davis (2009)
    Avatars, people, and virtual worlds: Foundations for research in metaverses
    J Assoc Inf Syst
  13. 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2007.00299.x
     ↗
  14. 10.1016/j.dss.2009.02.014
     ↗
  15. (0)
    Virtual World registered accounts reach 1 7bn in Q4 2011 2012
  16. pea (2009)
    The priming effects of avatars in virtual settings
    Commun Res  ↗
  17. 10.1162/105474603322761289
     ↗
  18. nardi (2002)
    10.7551/mitpress/2464.003.0008
    Distributed Work  ↗
  19. 10.1287/orsc.1070.0263
     ↗
  20. 10.1145/105783.105793
     ↗
  21. 10.1287/orsc.13.3.249.2776
     ↗
  22. 10.1002/hrdq.7
     ↗
  23. 10.1006/obhd.2000.2893
     ↗
  24. 10.1016/j.lrp.2007.10.006
     ↗
  25. baker (2009)
    Using visual representations of data to enhance sense making in data exploration tasks
    J Assoc Inf Syst
  26. jarvenpaa (1998)
    Is anybody out there? Antecedents of trust in global virtual teams
    J Manage Inf Syst  ↗
  27. 10.2307/2667032
     ↗
  28. 10.5465/AMBPP.2007.26523095
     ↗
  29. espinosa (2003)
    Team boundary issues across multiple global firms
    J Manage Inf Syst  ↗
  30. 10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00252.x
     ↗
  31. kiesler (2002)
    10.7551/mitpress/2464.003.0007
    Distributed Work  ↗
  32. 10.1207/S15327051HCI1523_4
     ↗
  33. Sutanto et al. (2011)
    Deriving IT-Mediated Task Coordination Portfolios for Global Virtual Teams
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  34. 10.1111/j.1365-2575.2005.00200.x
     ↗
  35. 10.1287/orsc.10.6.693
     ↗
  36. 10.2307/3250948
     ↗
  37. daft (1990)
    Information and Cognition in Organizations
  38. 10.1162/105474605774785253
     ↗
  39. griffith (2003)
    Virtualness and knowledge in teams: Managing the love triangle of organizations, individu…
    MIS Quart  ↗
  40. o'leary (2007)
    The spatial, temporal, and configurational characteristics of geographic dispersion in teams
    MIS Quart  ↗
  41. armstrong (2002)
    10.7551/mitpress/2464.003.0012
    Distributed Work  ↗
  42. 10.1108/09593840210444746
     ↗
  43. Brewer (2010)
    Miscommunication in International Virtual Workplaces: A Report on a Multicase Study
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  44. 10.1177/1059601111403625
     ↗
  45. glaser (1967)
    The Discovery of Grounded Theory
  46. 10.1177/1046496407301970
     ↗
  47. easterby-smith (1991)
    Introduction to Management Research
  48. miles (1984)
    Qualitative Data Analysis A Sourcebook of New Methods
  49. lincoln (1985)
    Naturalistic Inquiry
  50. locke (2001)
    Grounded theory in management research
  51. 10.1111/j.1467-8535.2009.01038.x
     ↗
  52. 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2007.00306.x
     ↗
  53. 10.1007/s10726-006-9046-6
     ↗
  54. van der land (2011)
    Modeling the metavers: A theoretical model of effective team collaboration in 3D virtual …
    Journal of Virtual Worlds Research  ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 34 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related articles

  1. Res Rhetorica Mar 2025
    Persuasiveness of inclusive language in organizational communication ↗
    Jacek Wasilewski; Agata Kostrzewa
    collaborative writing assessment professional writing digital rhetoric book reviews
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly Jul 2022
    Black Professional Communicators Testifying to Black Technical Joy ↗
    Antonio Byrd
    rhetorical criticism african american rhetorics revision collaborative writing technical communication professional writing qualitative research digital rhetoric multimodality literacy studies race and writing disability studies editorial matter
  3. Pedagogy Apr 2022
    Contributors ↗
    rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy creative writing writing across the curriculum teacher development collaborative writing assessment writing program administration technical communication professional writing digital rhetoric literacy studies gender and writing disability studies literary studies book reviews editorial matter
  4. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2015
    Instructional Design for Stem-Based Collaborative, Colocated Classroom Composition ↗
    Brad Mehlenbacher; Meagan Kittle Autry; Ashley Rose Kelly
    genre theory writing pedagogy collaborative writing technical communication professional writing scientific writing digital rhetoric online writing instruction book reviews
  5. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2014
    Where Did We Come From and Where Are We Going? Examining Authorship Characteristics in Technical Communication Research ↗
    Chris Lam
    graduate education technical communication professional writing empirical research qualitative research digital rhetoric book reviews