Exploring the Willingness of Knowledge Workers to Use the Metaverse Office: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The metaverse, with its potential to provide immersive work environments, may emerge as an effective solution for telecommuting. However, the adoption and promotion of the metaverse office are slowed down due to the public's limited acceptance of this new technology. This study employed interviews (N = 8) and questionnaires (N = 12) to explore the willingness of knowledge workers to use the metaverse office and identify the main reasons influencing this decision. The findings indicate that while most participants hold a favourable view of the metaverse office concept, they concurrently acknowledge a significant disparity between its envisioned blueprint and its practical implementation. The reasons affecting the willingness to utilize the metaverse office primarily fall into three categories: the current development level of metaverse technology, the completeness of functions in the metaverse office platform, and the characteristics of the users. These insights provide guidance for the future advancement direction of the metaverse office.

Keywords: Metaverse office, Telecommuting, Knowledge worker

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004620