The Virtual Room

Can you imagine creating your own 3D Character representing yourself so that you can communicate with your peers to discuss and solve day-to-day issues facing your organization?
More and more companies’ and their employees are meeting via high-level computerized conferences, collaborating on such projects as product strategy and information-technology planning. These meetings are beginning to occur via the new virtual world, with three-dimensional graphic characters, or avatars, standing
in for actual employees, making notes, holding conversations, and solving problems. It's certainly a chance to re-invent yourself!

Companies across the globe have been rushing to establish marketing in virtual worlds such as Second Life, largely to get their brands and products in front of the hard-core techies who spend hours immersed in online role playing. But lately, executives from a range companies, including Intel and HP are making a deeper push into virtual worlds, using them for a host of other tasks, such as training, private collaboration, and outreach to analysts and customers.

The software uses light, music, and color cues to highlight documents under discussion. Missed a meeting? No problem. Attendees can save work, including notes and a chat transcript, for later use.

How much the technology will transform users' business is an open question, and in some cases security remains an issue. Company property in Second Life is now largely open to the public.

The virtual meeting room sounds like a lot of fun but I’d probably be distracted with all the bells and whistles that go along with the convenience. I’d be interested in knowing how our bosses picture themselves in the virtual world!

Why the size of your business doesn’t matter on the Internet

As online retailing flourishes, companies' large and small are finding that the Internet can be a great way to build strong relationships with customers.

UPS is often a big part of making those ties even stronger. With Yahoo! Merchant Solutions, a UPS Ready e-commerce package, UPS helps companies of all sizes by providing shipping and web tools that streamline traditional shipping processes, leaving business owners free to give customers the attention they deserve.

Companies can benefit in different ways, depending on their size. The result, however, is the same: more time to spend on customers and consequently, more customers.

Larger companies have found that online tools like company blogs and virtual communities can help them become more accessible to customers and more responsive to customer needs.

Smaller companies have found that the Internet provides a terrific way for them to expand their reach, finding new customers far from home. These days, a first or second generation e-commerce site will most likely appear homemade and send the wrong impression. However, a well designed, efficient website, even the smallest startup can compete head-to-head with industry giants without losing that small-company touch.

Managing Communication at Work

Ladies and Gents,

After attending our first session of Managing Information Systems, I have realized something - I am "Clueless about Technology". In fact, out of all the inquiries Philipe made as to what tools we used, I think I raised my hand to two: Online Banking and MSN. I have a computer at home that I don't get much time to use (unless I'm doing homework of course) and a computer at work that I get way to much face time with. Working at UPS has helped me understand a lot about the importance of technology, the importance of integration, and the impact technology has on employees, customers, productivity, and management.

The only reason I know a little bit about MSN is because UPS allows us to use MSN to improve internal communication. From a management perspective, I find the tool useful but it can be a pain in the neck as well. For those of you who may not be familiar with MSN Web Messenger, it's a feature that allows users to communicate real-time (virtual conversation) with individuals and/or groups. You simply type in your message and send, then within seconds or minutes (depending on how slow of a typer the recipient is) they can respond. Users can customize their site, add pictures, add web cams, add emoticons to their communication, and also monitor whom in your contact list is available to communicate or not. That's the basics but there are lots of other features.

I first started using MSN to communicate to my manager when she was elsewhere in meetings, as I knew that she would see the MSN pop-up. I then started asking my peers quick questions via MSN and got quick answers. I find MSN is informal and a quick way to communicate with people. Since I supervise employees, my peers find it useful to MSN me if they see something going on that I need to investigate, like a hot dispute between employees. MSN saves time and I get real-time answers! The only draw-back is that even when you put your status as busy or away, you get the odd pain in the neck who is trying to get your attention through MSN. I feel compelled to answer!

Although I'm using MSN at work, I still have opportunities to improve my usage of it. For instance, MSN is a great tool for meetings, and for communicating confidential details within departments (so there's no ears glued to your conversation), and for directing work flow and even directing teams. I met a student in the 2005 MBA stream who primarily uses MSN to direct her team and manage her own work flow. She works from home often, she manages numerous MSN conversations at one time, manages her team and their work flow through MSN, and facilitates most of her meetings through MSN. I'm certainly not at that point yet.

By the way, if you plan on trying MSN, you may want to familiarize yourself with some of the lingo - there's some weird stuff.