Values, Beliefs, Artifacts and Avatars: Cultural Issues Mediated by Virtual Worlds

Networking and Electronic Commerce Research Conference 2010 (NAEC 2010), Riva del Garda, Italy

21 Pages Posted: 19 May 2011

See all articles by Rubens Pauluzzo

Rubens Pauluzzo

Università degli Studi di Udine - Department of Economics; Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Statistiche, Università di Udine

Maria Rosita Cagnina

Università degli Studi di Udine - Department of Economics

Michele Poian

Università degli Studi di Udine - Department of Economics

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Although Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) systems are increasingly used in the e-age, their performance may be undermined by their limits. In particular, lack of interactivity and inadequate modes of communication makes CMC unable to deal with intercultural challenges. Virtual Worlds (VWs), namely graphical representations of an online environment, may be useful tools to overcome such limitations. However, limited research is conducted on cultural processes that take place in-world. This work aims to shed some light on these processes and how they may affect business activities and collaborative practices. Whilst the research is largely theoretical, we hypothesize it may offer some useful insights to understand pros and cons of VWs as business platforms.

Keywords: Business Model, Virtual Worlds, Cultural Differences, Strategic Behaviour

JEL Classification: L86, L96, M30, O32

Suggested Citation

Pauluzzo, Rubens and Cagnina, Maria Rosita and Poian, Michele, Values, Beliefs, Artifacts and Avatars: Cultural Issues Mediated by Virtual Worlds (2010). Networking and Electronic Commerce Research Conference 2010 (NAEC 2010), Riva del Garda, Italy, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1836385

Rubens Pauluzzo (Contact Author)

Università degli Studi di Udine - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Tomadini 30
33100 Udine
Italy
+39 0432249235 (Phone)

Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Statistiche, Università di Udine ( email )

Via Tomadini 30/A
Udine, 33100
Italy

Maria Rosita Cagnina

Università degli Studi di Udine - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Tomadini 30
33100 Udine
Italy
+390432249228 (Phone)
+390432249229 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://diec.uniud.it/

Michele Poian

Università degli Studi di Udine - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Tomadini 30
33100 Udine
Italy
+390432249261 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://http:/fantasilandia.wordpress.com

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