The World of Virtual Work – A Discussion in Second Life

Telecommuting and virtual work are things which I'm pretty keen on - I've been working from [w:Trinidad and Tobago] since about 2000 - about 7 years. So when I got this notecard within Second Life (formatting changed for the web), I thought it interesting enough to post:

The World of Virtual Work – A Discussion in Second Life

WHEN: Thursday, July 12, at 12 pm PT/SLT
WHERE: Manpower Island in Second Life ManPower HQ, (112,114, 27)
(Not available until 11 am PT)

DESCRIPTION:
The world of work is changing - it seems as though each new day brings a new and innovative tool for businesses and employees to communicate and interact in the virtual workplace – from telecommuting to outsourcing and, more recently, virtual worlds such as Second Life.

But as the novelty of the virtualized workforce wears off and real business starts to get done, big questions call for a response: What does success look like in this emerging “World of Virtual Work?” What are the opportunities, what are the risks? And what are the rules of engagement for employers, employees, entrepreneurs, customers and job seekers?

In celebration of the launch of the company’s island in Second Life, Manpower, a world leader in employment services, will host a virtual panel discussion this Thursday to explore these important issues. Several prominent Second Life avatars who are active in the virtual business community will address the many open questions on the “World of Virtual Work.”

As a Second Life resident that regularly addresses the issues arising from the virtual workforce, you are invited to attend the discussion - and even participate - on how the virtual workforce is being shaped today. In addition, you will be among the first avatars to explore Manpower’s newly created island.

The event will be moderated by CNET senior writer Daniel Terdiman. Manpower CEO, Jeffrey Joerres will be making opening remarks.

Panelists include a cross section of real world and virtual world leaders who all have a hand in the virtualization of the workforce:

• Manpower’s Tammy Johns (avatar: Alexa Tammas), Senior Vice President of Workforce Strategy for a world leader in employment services
• IBM’s Colin Parris, Vice President, Digital Convergence in the IBM Research Group
• Quest G’s Algis Leveckis (avatar: Xiran Klaar), Co-Founder and CEO of a development and consulting company for the media-savvy workforce
• The Magicians’ Kimberly Rufer-Bach (avatar: Kim Anubis), Founder of an interactive 3D software development company specializing in SL content
• Shiny Thing’s Fallingwater Cellardoor is a prominent Second Life entrepreneur and owner of a popular Second Life fashion retail outlet

This evolving “World of Virtual Work” has become an invaluable way for companies of all types and sizes to better collaborate between their increasingly dispersed workforces. Some of the ways organizations are working virtually include:

• Collaboration among remote workers and between geographically dispersed companies and their customers and partners
• Holding virtual meetings such as presentations and events with dispersed employees, customers or partners
• Outsourcing to third party organizations to create a “virtual team” of people inside and outside the organization
• Enabling flexible work schedule arrangements through telecommuting
• Recruiting and networking for real and virtual world businesses
• Educating and training with geographically displaced workers via virtual collaboration tools

We hope you join us for what proves to be a lively educational discussion that will help shape the next phase of the virtual workplace.

Color me there.