IBM and Intel Create Guidelines for Second Life
This week IBM will release a set of rules for its 5,000 employees who use Second Life and other virtual worlds. Intel is working on a set of voluntary classes and guidelines to follow suit. IBM hopes that its policy will establish it as a trend setter and lead to a consulting practice. Executives report that other companies are already approaching them for help. [via USA Today] Both companies will be speaking at Virtual Worlds For the Enterprise, which focuses on best practices for large scale enterprises interested in adopting virtual worlds platforms. The conference track takes place at the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo on Oct. 10-11, 2007 in San Jose.
Some rules are specific to the world: "Building a reputation of trust within a virtual world represents a commitment to be truthful and accountable with fellow digital citizens. Dramatically altering, splitting or abandoning your digital persona may be a violation of that trust. ... In the case of a digital persona used for IBM business purposes, it may violate your obligations to IBM."
Others seem like common sense: don't discuss IP with unauthorized people, don't discriminate or harass, be sensitive to how you dress, and be a good netizen.
As Reuben Steiger from Millions of Us, told the AP reporter: "I'm just not sure it's necessary. Companies that don't bother with guidelines aren't flying blind — the regular rules automatically extend to virtual worlds."
Reuben is right; they're not strictly necessary. Any company with existing guidelines for working online should find that with a bit of common sense they are already equipped with working in virtual worlds.
On the other hand, a few extra examples and explanations specifically for the context of virtual worlds can't hurt either.
You can see my thoughts on the matter at Terra Nova:
http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2007/08/ibms-virtual-wo.html
Posted by: Roo Reynolds | August 15, 2007 at 11:45 AM