Leadership Training in VR for the Next Generation of Leaders

In order to succeed in the future, leaders and managers will need to become more agile, responsive and develop an ability to adapt to different needs generated by changing workplaces. Leaders will also need to be open to cultural and ever changing technological changes that will impact the core of organisational operations.

VR Learning Studio (a division of eLearning Studios) has been working on 2 projects that utilise the power of virtual Reality to deliver effective leadership training for new leaders.

1. Leading Mars through VR

[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:320.4pt;margin-top:5.55pt;width:158.95pt; height:31.8pt;z-index:-251657216;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:text'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Karyn\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title=""></v:imagedata> <w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif]The Financial Times | IE Business School Corporate Learning Alliance, along with VRLS has created VR training simulations that help develop core leadership skills such as empathy, teamwork communication, problems solving and dealing with challenging situations.

The 2 player VR training simulation is designed to build empathy and communication skills between players and consists of two ‘gameplay’ rounds with one player using the VR headset and the other player using a physical instruction booklet. The players must work together to solve a series of puzzles under a time pressure. The pair then swap roles and play through a second scenario.

[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:279pt;margin-top:.8pt;width:215.4pt; height:160.45pt;z-index:-251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square; mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0; mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Karyn\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title="FT print A1 size and mount on foam board"></v:imagedata> <w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif]

Users decide who will be the VR player on Mars and who will be based on Earth (HQ Player) - the experience is played twice, with roles reversed, so both users experience being on VR Mars!

The ‘VR Player’ wears the VR headset while the HQ Player has paper instructions consisting of blueprints, diagrams and seemingly indecipherable instructions.

The ‘VR Player’ finds themselves waking up on the Mars colony, in a cryosleep chamber greeted by the Mars AI called Nan-C who can provide hints and guidance to help them solve the puzzles. However…every time Nan-C is accessed energy is used up. Once all of the energy is expended then both players no longer have access to Nan-C and they are on their own to solve the puzzles.

If you are interested in creating your own bespoke VR leadership project please contact John Fecci who would be happy to discuss some ideas and arrange to show you some demos.

2. Xtended Reality Leadership for Xtra-ordinary Leaders -Blending VR, AR and Face to Face Approaches

The Xtended Reality Leadership for Xtra-ordinary Leaders (XRL) project is focused on preparing new leaders for leadership in the 21st Century by developing high quality leadership competences and skills in improving productivity, integrated technology innovation, globalisation, inclusive leadership, responsible leadership and core leadership skills.

The project seeks to promote the adoption of ‘new innovative practices in a digital era’ by blending the use of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), face to face discussions and innovative pedagogies in order to provide a new brand new digitally enhanced approach to leadership training.

This innovative new multiplayer (2-4 players) blended AR/ VR package consists of:

1. A virtual facilitator (to be played on a tablet/ mobile phone) which introduces activities, facilitates, debriefs and provides AR interactions.

2. An interactive downloadable map that will be used for AR related tasks.

3. A series of short VR challenges/ missions in which the players get to practice leadership skills: These will last approximately 5 minutes each and will draw upon the unique experiential and immersive capabilities of VR.

4. Debrief sessions: In between the activities there will be time for discussion with the group of players to discuss their approach and key learning points they can apply in a workplace setting. This is facilitated through questions on the App.

Funded by Erasmus+ and consisting of partners from Spain, Portugal and Sweden along with Coventry University (UK), the XRL approaches will be based on a new curriculum for the next generation of leaders and self-assessment tools developed by the partners.

Anyone interested in the results from the XRL project or participating in complimentary XRL workshops and events should contact Karyn Murray