Virtual World New Business Venture Contest
Overview
Researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Rowan University are pleased to announce the launch of a new business venture contest within Second Life©. Thirty lucky participants will be allotted ~2,048 sqm of land and ~468 prims, free of charge on one of three Second Life regions purchased specifically for the contest. Over the course of approximately five months, participants will try to generate as much revenue as possible for an innovative business of their choosing. Business ideas, buildings, products, etc. will remain the sole property of the participants and can be moved to another region (at the participant’s expense) at the completion of the contest.
Rules of Participation*
• Participants must be 18 years or older
• Participants must be fluent in English
• The participant must not sell or advertise any product containing content that is hateful, threatening, alcohol- or drug-related, pornographic, or that contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence
• Participants are restricted from selling items that may infringe on a firm's trademark (Coach handbags, Nike shoes, etc.)
• Business ideas must be the sole creation of the participant and must be unique from any businesses they may currently be operating in Second Life
• Participants must agree to complete survey questionnaires periodically during the contest
* Permission to build will be revoked if any of the contest rules are violated
Research
This contest will be used to support the ongoing research of the event organizers. Approval for the study has been granted by the Internal Review Board at Rowan University. Consent forms will be distributed to participants upon their selection. Participation in this contest will span approximately five months. Throughout the course of the contest participants will be periodically asked to complete survey questionnaires estimated to take ~15 minutes each.
Participation
A brief description of the proposed business (in English and no more than two pages please) should be submitted by those interested in participating. Thirty participants will then be randomly selected from those submitting acceptable business proposals. To submit a proposal, or for additional details regarding the contest, please contact the organizers using the information shown below:
Andrew Hardin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of MIS
College of Business
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
[email]andrew.hardin@unlv.edu[/email]