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IBM to Regulate Employee Second Life Behavior
Posted by
Zonk
on Fri Jul 27, 2007 05:02 PM
from the no-furry-costumes-during-work-hours dept.
from the no-furry-costumes-during-work-hours dept.
mytrip writes "In hopes of avoiding potentially embarrassing incidents, IBM is taking the unusual step of establishing official guidelines for its more than 5,000 employees who inhabit Second Life and other virtual worlds. 'IBM appears to be the first corporation to create rules governing virtual worlds. The move has critics, who say that mandating behavior for the so-called "metaverse" is unlikely to reform impish avatars. They also question why IBM would add a layer of buttoned-down bureaucracy to this relatively rollicking corner of the Internet. IBM executives counter that having a code of conduct is akin to a corporate stamp of approval, encouraging workers to explore more than 100 worlds IBM collectively calls the 3D Internet.'" This regulation may be coming from more than self-interest: IBM sees these environments as management training courses in some ways; working inter-personal skills via chat and human resources via guild activities.
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IBM seems to be following a trend of involvement in virtual worlds, which we have previously discussed.
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Um... (Score:5, Funny)
This, I have to see for myself.
Apparently. (Score:4, Insightful)
Okay, aside from the concept of "meeting with IBM clients" in Second Life
When you're on your own you can whatever you want to be.
Seriously, anyone who needs to be told what is appropriate for meeting clients really should NOT be meeting clients. In real life or online.
Parent
Re:Apparently. (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Then couldn't they be fired for conducting IBM business through a non-company avatar? Sidenote: Does the company you work for have a written policy against flashing clients?
Big Blue Uniform? (Score:2)
Pretty much, yep. (Score:3, Insightful)
Pretty much. They'd have a selection. Male and female of different appearances. So you can sort of match it to you. And so you don't look like Agent Smith when a group of five of you show up.
And they'd hire people to polish them. You want to present the most professional appearance possible (if you're IBM). So spending money on getting the textures and shadows right is important. It's all about paying attention to the smallest det
Re:Um... (Score:4, Interesting)
So I wouldn't classify second life as a game as there is no fun or objectives and its very clunky so 'playing' it isn't accurate.
Parent
Re:Um... (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:Um... (Score:4, Insightful)
A cyberspace import limitation of the physical world that get in the way... brought to you by the same people who imagined giant network of tubes to deliver mails.
Parent
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Never-the-less interacting with digital representations of physical objects is a lot more intuitive than 'click this' or 'click that' blah blah blah that you get on current websites. Consider the possibility of an integration of something like SecondLife with something like Google Earth and re
Re: (Score:2)
...what makes "digital representation of physical objects" so different from a "Buy it now!" button? The button is just that; a digital representation of a "real" button.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
But, yes. IBM is a tech company. They have islands in Second Life, and there are certainly people who have legitimate reasons
So...? (Score:2)
When logged onto Second Life at work (or presumably using the same account you use at work), they want you to project the corporate image. This seems reasonable, although perhaps overly anal.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I know, I know: RTFA is a joke. RTFS is dead. RTFT happens on occasion. But would you mind RMFP (My F* Post) before replying. They want the avatars you use on company time to adhere to some decorum. Even if you use them also at home. TFA doesn't say explicitly, but implies these are IBM's avatars you may use from home (RTFA for context, I don't feel like retyping it here.) So, yes, they are saying in the game they work for IBM.
Re: (Score:2)
Trivial. The payment of workers in company script, which allowed companies to regulate how the workforce spends their money, has been entirely elimiated.
Re: (Score:2)
Ever have to take a urine/blood test for work?
Re:So...? (Score:4, Insightful)
Say, for example, the guys down the hall have been at the company for ten years, and you're a new hire, and they issue to you a challenge to be able to code $something, or find a bug in a particular process, or prove to them how a particular bug can be turned into an exploit. And they're all be-boppin' 'n' scattin' all over you every time they see you, frat boy hazing style, and constantly giving you digs about how,"If you were any sort of real programmer you'd have it done by now" while, in private, constantly reassuring you that it's impossible because they have never been able to do it.
Then, one day, you pull it off. And all of they're be-boppin' 'n' scattin' and taunts and hazing comes back on them from the people in the other building who've been quietly hoping to hell you'll pull off the challenge because, several years back, their department got their budget slashed because the guys down the hall (who issued the challenge and followed it with taunting) managed to come up with a miraculous save on one of their projects and have been egotistical knuckleheads about it ever since. At least until you showed up and put their challenge right back up their nose (where it needed to be).
So now you've become the unwitting participant in a five-to-ten year running ego war between two prominent researchers, both from lengthy lines of prominent publishing research groups, both managing groups of thirty to fifty people with budgets figured in the tens of millions.
Kind of an awkward position, isn't it? Okay, but you're still proud of yourself that you managed to accomplish the $challenge.
Then, one day, when you log on to Second Life... you find yourself surrounded by griefers who never go away and, the day you finally tell one of the griefers to "Shove it!" using rather colorful language, that day is immediately followed the next morning by a reprimand from corporate for not observing the corporate image online.
And then you begin to get snyde in-the-hall comments from the be-boppin' 'n' scattin' hazing frat boy fanclub down the hall that, yes, they're the griefers who've been trolling you on Second Life... but there's nothing you can do about it because they turned you in to HR first, and anything you say now will need to go both against their collective reputation (which, given they came up with the miraculous breakthrough five years ago, is pretty darn big) and the impression that you're just a malcontent who's retaliating against "The Man" and with some psychotic conspiracy theory.
No. No, and No. It is not a good idea for an employer to have any legal authority, either inside or outside the workplace, to observe, monitor, or check on anything you do once you leave their doors.
Parent
Re:So...? (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
So... (Score:5, Funny)
which is odd (Score:3, Funny)
One has to wonder, however.... (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
They are both giving good advice to their potentially noob employees about how to interact on line at ANY time, but then have specific guidlines that must be followed "When representing the company in a virtual world".
It was all very straight forward looking.
No, one knows... (Score:2)
IBM has always had strict guidelines about how IBM employees relate to the rest of the world, but at least in the last two decades (the main time I've had any involvement with them, including time contracting there) I have not been aware of them ever crossing the line you're asking about. At any ate, I haven't seen any evidence they are in this case
Rule number one (Score:5, Insightful)
(it is kinda like the "news media" just discovered that you can make a virtual world online)
Tell that to people making money in SL (Score:3, Insightful)
It is embarrassing and no one in the real world cares besides the news media and misc. company bosses.
People are making money in SL. This is the biggest differentiator between SL and previous virtual worlds. As soon as profit enters the picture, everyone starts paying attention.
Your comment reminds me of comments in '94/'95 about the Web. That flash in the pan has carried on pretty well, I'd say.
"Second" Life? (Score:5, Funny)
IBM would like to discourage employees from
aimless wandering around
dressing up as a flying phallus (without a tie)
crowding around the "hot looking"
starting conversations with "check out my new script"
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Is it even legal? (Score:5, Interesting)
RTFA (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
That said, "lifestyle discrimination" is legal in most places. More accurately, companies can discriminate based on anything not defined as illegal, and most states don't have any laws against discrimination aside from the usual protected classes (race, religion, medical, sexual preference (that's relatively recent, etc.).
This is a particular problem for smokers and other people with unpopular habits. I once had a company threaten to fire me if I didn't quit, be
Re: (Score:2)
'Drugs' have a special evil status now, so rules to apply when going after 'them'.
Fucking Reagan
Re: (Score:2)
Saying that, I wouldn't want anyone who has any responsibility or access to anything remotely sensitive within my organisation to use drugs (all sorts of risk, from instability to susceptibility to blackmail or other pressure). I would however hope that my management team would det
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
I wouldn't want a doctor / a pilot / a bus driver stoned whilst working,
Why not? Have you smoked marijuana on a regular basis for any length of time? Do you personally believe that everyone suffers the same weakness which is exploited in government reports? How about doctors, pilots, or bus drivers working at high altitudes? Shouldn't the lack of oxygen predispose them to weakness? What? Oh... you mean they grow accustomed to it? Is that even possible in nature? *gasp* Shock and awe... I thought nobody would ever think of it.
those are public safety related
So is driving with one hand, listening to th
Re: (Score:2)
You really shouldn't talk. Your entire post smacked of ego. It was one pure ad hominem attack wrapped in a lame attempt at sarcasm, and with absolutely no substance.
You don't think marijuana is a problem? Fine. How about some research? How about some reasonable points to debate? Hell, how about anything other than the self-righteous crap you decided to spew instead?
Nah. Much easier to just walk around in your sarcastic holier-than-thou way.
Re: (Score:2)
You don't think marijuana is a problem? Fine. How about some research?
Because, if it were truly dangerous to human life, then humans would avoid it the same way we avoid other poisons and strong hallucinogens. If it truly were evil then it wouldn't have a world-wide reputation (among actual users, as opposed to ignorant witch-hunters) as a peaceful drug, as a way to relax, and as a way to enjoy life.
What is it about ten thousand years of historical record that is wiped away by eighty years of government lies?
Re: (Score:2)
Would you be alright with me cutting, pasting, and attributing yo
Re: (Score:2)
There's a [i]slight[/i] difference between your employer catching you doing substances (which may effect your performance on the job), and trying to dictate how you behave outside the workplace when you're doing nothing illegal.
Frankly, if I'm having to follow someone else's code of conduct 24hrs a day, I expect to be compensated for it 24hrs a day.
Re: (Score:2)
Guidelines (Score:3, Funny)
Opportunity, dude! (Score:2)
And maybe some clueless IBM HR drone would buy it to use for real!
HR Drones (Score:2)
Acceptable Second Life Behavior (Score:2, Funny)
IBM guidelines (Score:2)
For those that are interested, you can read IBM's Business Conduct Guidelines, specifically the section On Your Own Time [ibm.com], as well as IBM's Blogging Policy and Guidelines [ibm.com] and the Virtual World Guidelines [ibm.com].
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Somebody shoot William Gibson... (Score:2)
...retroactively, please. Sometime pre-Neuromancer would be nice. Bonus: You'd prevent Pattern Recognition while you were at it!
These journalists! They try too hard to be hip; they pretend to be well-versed in technology -- and yet they coin nonsense phrases like "Cyberspace!" It is they who are responsible for this! (Regina Lynn on Wired: I'm looking at you too. At least Gibson wrote some Cyberpunk.) So, while -- fine -- shooting might be a bit harsh, I do think the pillory could be in order...
[
Off hours restrictions (Score:2)
Now if they are talking on-hours, then thats a bit different as you are on their dime. I cant get to the story to see which we are talking about.
Re: (Score:2)
Basically, it's due to the fact that IBM uses tools like Secondlife to conduct business.
So, if business lunches are often conducted at the local DuClaw's, you're automatically banned from playing pool there? If some drunk idiot starts taunting you and getting in your face, in your off hours, with the blessing of the pub owner, you're just supposed to shrug it off because "We might tell your Mommy if you say anything back"? What's to stop IBM from conducting business _everywhere_ on the web and using that as justification to monitor all employees at all times?
Do authoritarians ever draw a li