Virtual reality as a training environment for strengthening social competences to promote teamwork in companies
- Project Number: FFG872573
- Project Lead: Klaus Neundlinger, Institute for Cultural Excellence
- Project Partner: Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine (University Hospital Tulln), Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / D.O.T. - Die offene Tür (The Open Door), Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft / Forschungsgruppe DOT, Institute for Advanced Studies, Polycular OG, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
- Duration: 34 months starting from 01.03.2019
Background
Background:
Complex social competencies, such as empathy, the ability to reflect or to constructively solve conflicts, are key in a contemporary work environment which is characterized by complex forms of interaction. This is the basis for our motivation to investigate novel forms of learning and training, which include emotional experiences in order to effect a sustainable increase in social competencies and, consequently, improve teamwork. Weaknesses of existing methods for promoting social competencies, such as a sole focus on cognitive stimuli, are specifically addressed through the use of virtual reality (VR).
Aims:
In a highly interdisciplinary process, this project examines how social skills (e.g. active listening, empathic change of perspective, etc.) can be trained using VR scenarios. The target group are middle management staff charged with a high number of coordination tasks, whose social skills impact the quality of the working conditions of the entire team they are responsible for. Based on the training approach of the consulting company 4dimensions, which focuses on optimizing team collaboration, a research prototype will be developed for the study.
