Designing a 3D Virtual HRD Environment From a Scholar-Practitioner Perspective

Abstract

The Problem

When the global economy went into recession, many organizations needed to revisit their training investment. In this case study, one organization wanted to retain its emphasis on training without committing to the flight and hotel costs associated with in-person delivery for a globally distributed workforce. The training department therefore looked for a virtual training solution informed by research and theory that could host existing in-person training courses in a virtual environment while also providing a professional experience and high evaluation ratings.

The Solution

The organization selected a 3D virtual world to host a custom-built training environment consisting of an auditorium, a training center, a student center, and interactive displays. Within 5 months, the environment was hosting regular multiday training courses that delivered high evaluation ratings while saving the company just under US$1,000,000 over a 2-year period. The case study describes the environment as well as the lessons learned from the implementation.

The Stakeholders

This article provides scholar-practitioners with an example of how research and theory can inform practice to create a better solution for a real-life organizational problem. It also provides scholar-practitioners with guidance on how to explore 3D virtual worlds for use in their own organizations and in training delivery more widely.