Avatars, People, and Virtual Worlds: Foundations for Research in MetaversesAlanah Davis, John D. Murphy, Dawn Owens et al.|Journal of the Association for Information Systems|2009 Metaverses are immersive three-dimensional virtual worlds in which people interact as avatars with each other and with software agents, using the metaphor of the real world but without its physical limitations. The ubiquitous availability of high speed Internet access has spurred enormous interest in virtual worlds like Second Life and World of Warcraft, both in terms of user gaming and as a new technological platform for global virtual collaboration. These environments have potential for richer, more engaging collaboration, but their capabilities have yet to be examined in depth. Of particular interest in this paper is the use of metaverses for virtual team collaboration. We develop a conceptual model for research in metaverses that is based on five key constructs: (1) the metaverse itself, (2) people/avatars, (3) metaverse technology capabilities, (4) behaviors, and (5) outcomes. We present an in-depth characterization of metaverse technology capabilities from a socio-technical view that recognizes the potential for variation in emergent interaction and in outcomes. Example propositions and a discussion of key issues and challenges show how the model can be used to further research and practice in virtual teams in the context of these new environments.
An Empirical Study of Online Word of Mouth as a Predictor for Multi-product Category e-Commerce SalesAbstract The ability to exchange opinions and experiences online is known as online word of mouth (WOM) and has been shown in the literature to have the potential to impact e‐commerce sales. The purpose of this paper is to expand previous findings by empirically evaluating the impact of online WOM attributes and other related factors (e.g. product views, promotion, and category) on e‐commerce sales using real data from a multi‐product retail e‐commerce firm. Research has previously shown that the introduction of online WOM on a retail e‐commerce site can positively impact product sales. We propose and validate a conceptual model of online WOM and its impact on product sales and the impact of moderator variables such as promotion, product category and product views. It is our conclusion that previous research on online WOM has been limited as our research empirically demonstrates the conclusion that it is the interaction of product category, volume and product views, and the interaction of product views and product category which are statistically significant in explaining changes in unit product sales. Pure increase in volume or number of reviewer comments has no significant effect on sales. These conclusions have critical implications for the practical use of online WOM in e‐commerce and for internet marketing. Keywords: Online word of mouthonline consumer reviewsonline recommendationsonline marketingonline retailers
Toward a Taxonomy of Groupware TechnologiesDaniel Mittleman, Robert O. Briggs, John D. Murphy et al.|Lecture notes in computer science|2008 Overcoming the Digital Divide through Electronic Commerce: Harnessing opportunities in IT for DevelopmentThe disparities in access to and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) comprise a divide between those who can and cannot reap the benefits of the information superhighway. Electronic commerce appears to enable this divide to be overcome. This paper provides insight into the ways in which development is brought about through ICTs. Following an analysis of the key factors effecting development through e-commerce, the contribution of this paper is in a framework that describes the relationship between the tools and benefits of e-commerce and its effect on development
Real-World Opportunities for Virtual- World Project ManagementVirtual worlds provide technology capabilities that could transform education, communication and collaboration, and project management.