SBIR Phase I: Lynchpin Global: An Immersive Massive Multi-Player Environment for Learning Effective Team-Based Project Management for Information Technology in Manufacturing Envi

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目使用户能够使用3D虚拟世界平台在实施企业业务IT系统（如ERP）的背景下演练项目管理技能。参与者与实际制造过程和产品的虚拟复制品进行交互。他们必须在团队环境中，在真实的世界生产和绩效需求中解决一些相互作用的问题（例如，通过实地访问收集信息，编写机构资源规划报告，委派角色和谈判范围变化）。该方法已成功地与IBM项目经理作为一个模型的沉浸式，基于模拟，结果驱动的学习和培训的组织处理大型IT实施工作。然而，这些参与者已经接近专家级学习者。我们的目标是在教育环境中应用该方法，在新手到高级初学者中部署该方法，并解决有关在新兴虚拟世界平台中提供这种体验的价值的一些问题。我们预计，虚拟世界将提供一个最佳的基于模拟的排练环境，用于培训下一代项目经理，他们将面临越来越复杂的实施工作，需要超越当前培训方法的敏捷性和技能。该项目的广泛影响/商业潜力解决了大型组织长期存在的信息技术实施失败率高的问题。使用沉浸式，基于模拟，结果驱动的排练方法，该产品有可能1）提高ERP系统在制造环境中的成功率，2）通过允许用户无风险地排练和测试部署计划，3）并通过为项目管理和IT实施的新学生提供一个机会，在沉浸式环境中遇到真实的世界问题并在压力下开发解决方案，经验的方式。由于我们使用虚拟世界作为演练平台，因此该产品还将测试有关使用虚拟世界技术演练IT实施工作的可行性的许多问题。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project enables users to rehearse the Project Management skills in the context of implementing enterprise business IT systems, such as ERP, using 3D Virtual World platforms. Participants interact with virtual replicas of actual manufacturing processes and products. They must solve a number of interacting problems, in a team setting, amidst real world production and performance demands (e.g. gathering information through site visits, developing ERP reports, delegating roles and negotiating scope changes). The method has shown success with IBM project managers as a model of immersive, simulation based, outcomes driven learning and training for organizations tackling large IT implementation efforts. However, these participants were already near expert level learners. Our objectives for this grant are to apply the method in an educational setting, deploying the method among novice to advanced beginner learners, as well as resolve a number of questions about the value of delivering such an experience within emerging Virtual Worlds platforms. We anticipate that Virtual Worlds will provide an optimal simulation-based rehearsal environment for training the next generation of project managers who will be facing increasingly complex implementation efforts that require agility and skill sets that go beyond current training methods. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project addresses the long-standing problem of high IT implementation failure rates among large organizations. Using an immersive, simulation-based, outcomes driven rehearsal methodology, this product has the potential to 1) increase the success rate of ERP systems in manufacturing environments, 2) by allowing users to rehearse and test deployment plans without risk and 3) and by providing students new to project management and IT implementation an opportunity to encounter real world problems and develop solutions under pressure in an immersive, experiential manner. Because we use Virtual Worlds as the rehearsal platform, this product will also test a number of questions about the feasibility of using Virtual Worlds technologies for rehearsing IT implementation efforts.