Prepare for Tomorrow's Global Work Environment

Advancing in the virtual world of multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) such a World of Warcraft is not only a passion tens of millions of gamers around the world share, but the title can also serve as a way to practice successfully navigating and working in multi-national organizations. According to findings reported in an IBM study, "," online games such as MMORPGs teach gamers how to collaborate better in a work environment of connected users spread out around the world.

The IBM researchers also reported that online gaming worlds reflect what the dynamics of future organizations will be like.

"Online gaming provides us with what we believe is a unique look into the future of tomorrow's organization. To succeed in a more global, faster-paced business environment, organizations will need to consider both the behaviors they are going to need their future leaders to demonstrate, and the tools and techniques leaders will need to master," they wrote. "This has a range of implications for organizations, from the design of leadership development programs to the prioritization of future IT budgets."

Some companies are also finding that online gaming worlds can . However, doing business in virtual worlds poses some security concerns, since online games remain a public forum and also can pose compliance problems.