Identifying and Evaluating the Determinants of Metaverse Adoption in Employee Training

Subject Areas : human resource management

Mersedeh Adabi ¹ , Hormat Asghari ² , Mahdi Davari ³

1 - .Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2025-05-27 Accepted : 2025-07-15 Published : 2025-11-06

Keywords: metaverse, employee training, technology adoption,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: The aim of the research is to identify and evaluate the factors determining the acceptance of metaverse in employee training. Before designing and implementing metaverse infrastructures in organizational training, it is necessary to carefully examine the issue of acceptance of this new technology

Methodology: This research is of applied purpose and exploratory nature, which was conducted based on a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative). In the qualitative technique, the theme analysis method (ATLAS TI software) was used, and in the quantitative method, the Delphi method and the interpretive structural model (MICMAC software) were used. 14 human resource management experts were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using an interview tool. In the modeling section, a hierarchical model was performed based on a structured matrix.

Findings: These 10 components include perceived usefulness, technological infrastructure and accessibility, technology acceptance, organizational culture and readiness for change, user engagement and interaction, evaluation, perceived ease of use, cost and investment, security and privacy, and needs assessment. Also, based on the interpretive structural model, 5 hierarchies for the adoption of metaverse in employee training were identified.

Conclusion: Although this emerging technology has unique capacities to enhance effectiveness, interactivity, and simulation of learning environments, its successful adoption in organizations depends on a set of structural, cultural, technical, and behavioral factors. Needs assessment, as a key infrastructure, initiates the adoption process, and without accurately identifying the real needs of employees, investment in metaverse may lead to failure.

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