1. 1 Welcome to the Virtual Enterprise IME420 The Virtual Enterprise

2. 2 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. IME420 The Virtual Enterprise WHAT THIS CLASS IS ABOUT

3. 3 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? IME420 The Virtual Enterprise http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/course-materials/second-life/ YOUR DELIVERABLES

4. 4 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 IME420 The Virtual Enterprise 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.

5. 5 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” IME420 The Virtual Enterprise

6. 6 Categories of Virtual Enterprises TRADITIONAL IME420 The Virtual Enterprise These are enterprises that use technology tools to collaborate across time and distance. For example: between distant offices across multiple time zones; or between non- collocated employees

7. 7 Categories of Virtual Enterprises CONTEMPORARY IME420 The Virtual Enterprise Enterprises which have a presence in a virtual environment.

8. 8 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 IME420 The Virtual Enterprise

9. 9 Web evolution from a user experience IME420 The Virtual Enterprise 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

10. 10 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). IME420 The Virtual Enterprise

11. 11 Avatar: An Incarnation; An electronic image that both represents and is manipulated by a computer user. IME420 The Virtual Enterprise Definitions

12. 12 Content slide 1 IME420 The Virtual Enterprise