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In a post-Zoom world, the question: “Are the right people in the room?” remains, if only metaphorically. However, the remote presence of all relevant cross-functional team members may not eliminate the threat of silos as effectively as the physical presence of everyone. But there is a solution that goes beyond the old debate about returning to the office. The tools of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have the potential to create fully immersive environments that give business leaders the best of both worlds.
In my experience helping middle and senior managers in the technology industry better manage their teams, I have found that applying agile methodologies is the best way to align teams, but has proven challenging in remote environments. Agile is a project management methodology that emerged from the software development industry in the early 2000s as a means of completing work incrementally and collaboratively to allow for frequent course corrections. The insights gained are particularly applicable to industries that require adaptability and responsiveness to change, such as e-commerce and marketing.
However, remote team members with different expertise tend to communicate blindly without fully understanding each other’s capabilities. This is where the metaverse comes into play. These problems could be solved in a digital universe where employee avatars work together in a simulated office and interact directly with products and services in this virtual space. By adopting core best practices now developed for the agile methodology, such as: Business leaders, such as more frequent feedback and cross-functional collaboration, are creating the conditions to benefit from this development.
Related: Exploring how virtual reality is transforming startups
Unlock efficiency and collaboration
The metaverse is not the stuff of science fiction. Proponents of the next Internet say it is poised to transform our work lives in the same way that social media and mobile devices did in the first version of the Internet. With 61% of managers citing communication as the biggest challenge of remote work, the Metaverse promises to reintroduce some elements of in-person collaboration.
In a video environment, additional effort is required to be direct and transparent about each person’s expectations and capabilities. However, the metaverse could improve everyone’s ability to continually work toward a common goal. Last year, the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior conducted pilot workshops in a virtual environment designed and set up by PwC. In the resulting study, participants wearing VR headsets found the Metaverse process far more agile and efficient than video conferencing, and their sense of closeness with colleagues increased by 58%.
Bespoke virtual offices can play a unique role in implementing the agile ideal, where every person on the team, including the product manager, has the same opinion. But you don’t have to wait until this technology becomes mainstream to experience the benefits of Agile. The key is to give teams clear visibility into project roadmaps and identify where and why teams are not escalating issues promptly.
Add value by being fully present
The daily “stand-up” is the most important aspect of the popular agile Scrum framework. Teams get 15 minutes of personal time each day, and it has to be quick and easy: Here’s what a person did yesterday, this is what they’re doing today, and these are their “blockers.” The team acts as equals, while the single point of contact – the Scrum Master – can help make priority decisions.
But when teams lose face-to-face time in digital collaboration spaces, they lose stand-up. Previously, when someone mentioned a blocker, the entire team would be present to discuss a way around it. This system is designed to enable agile teams to solve problems on site. The challenge for remote teams is maintaining the same agile pace in an environment where employees are often not as engaged.
When the Metaverse comes, “standing up” will be possible again through avatars and a virtual Scrum Board. Until then, managers need to encourage open communication and ensure the right people can make decisions. I also suggest showing people, not just telling them, that mistakes provide learning opportunities in a blameless culture.
Dismantle silos virtually
When a virtual workspace is well designed and with optimized visibility, teams may naturally feel drawn to breaking down silos through open, transparent communication. This means assessing whether the team can stay on top of the real issues as the market changes and also examining the team’s execution style.
Start experimenting with this approach by making sure people aren’t left alone to deal with problems. Then they usually don’t escalate and everything slows down. If you don’t already use daily stand-ups, use these sprint sessions to present the tasks and issues to the entire team and learn how the issues may be preventing individuals from completing the tasks.
People need to be confident in making their decisions because companies no longer have the luxury of time. As we move toward our brave new future, having all components of a virtual workplace reflect changes in real time will keep everyone up to date and reap the benefits of simulated in-person interactions.
Related: The Metaverse has definitely lost steam – but is it dead?
Paving the way for safe decisions
In a metaverse corporate environment, the question of whether everyone is in the room can be made even more literal – enhanced by audio-spatial technology that means the person to your right actually sounds like they are to your right. When everyone is more present, it can be easier to manage conflict and make confident decisions. For executives thinking about experimenting with metaverse platforms, McKinsey recommends adopting a test-and-learn mindset. Start small by integrating select elements such as virtual whiteboards or project rooms into your existing workflows to not only see how your team responds, but also to assess the potential of this technology. Where digital collaboration tools are challenging, an enterprise metaverse promises to help companies build highly engaged remote teams that are quick on their feet and able to quickly work toward a profitable MVP.