Maximizing Success: How to Measure VR Initiatives as part of your Change Management Plan (Part 2)

Now that we have explored how VR can be used as part of a change management plan, the next step is to determine how to measure its success.

As with any initiative (change management or otherwise), it is important to have a clear understanding of what success looks like so that you can gauge progress over time.

[This article is part 2. Here is part 1, if you haven’t read it… start there to understand how VR can be used in your next or current change initiative.]

WCQS during their first Collaborate session with Better Than Unicorns!

We, at Better Than Unicorns, like to use the phrase Brené Brown introduced to us, “paint done for me.” With change initiatives, “Measuring adoption is fundamental as it is the basis of which value is created for the organization from any implementation.” Not only adoption, at Better Than Unicorns, we also look at success defined by knowledge retention, technical effectiveness, and satisfaction. And like many qualitative measurements, we will need to get creative about how we get our data as there are only a few VR applications that offer exports of user activity. So, let’s explore seven metrics that together we can use to evaluate the effectiveness of your project and future change initiatives:

1. Learner Performance: VR training metrics can be collected to analyze the performance of learners and compare it to ideal performance measures outside the VR environment.
2. Completion rate: simply measure the completion rate of the VR training program.
3. Knowledge Retention rate: the system can also measure how much of the information taught in the VR training program is retained by the learners after the training program is complete.
4. Employee satisfaction: VR is a powerful medium for getting candid, non-distracted feedback about the satisfaction level of the employees with the change, whether they feel the change is positive or negative, and how well the change is being received by the employees.
5. Efficiency and productivity: track employee efficiency, productivity, and performance after the training, and measure the improvements.
6. Customer satisfaction: engage customers to determine satisfaction rates and compare them before and after the implementation of VR technology.
7. Cost-benefit: evaluate the financial success and efficiency of the training using VR technology compared to former training modalities.

Eastman (Kodak) defusing the bomb with shared leadership!

Of course, it is important to note that these metrics can vary depending on the context, the specific goals of the company, and the nature of the change management initiatives. Testing if employees are able to retain the information, measuring the degree of collaboration and teamwork, and gauging preparedness are all critical components when measuring the success of a VR initiative. Additionally, tracking customer satisfaction rate and running a cost-benefit analysis of the program are also key considerations.

Another way to measure success is to look at the amount of time and resources that are saved as a result of the VR initiative. Imagine transporting an entire team of 9 members to a 90-minute offsite meeting and then sending them back to their respective remote offices! How much does that cost in travel, food, and lodging? At least $5,000. How much time do they lose in transit? Now, imagine that the team is instantly teleported into that meeting and sent immediately back when complete. Leveraging VR reduces the amount of time and resources needed to onboard new employees, train and educate existing employees, or facilitate collaboration.

Goodway Group teams consistently beat records in Remio’s escape room

Finally, it is important to measure the impact that using VR while in the midst of change can have on employee satisfaction. If employees are more engaged and productive, and dare say having fun, then adding VR to the initiative can be considered successful. VR initiatives can directly help the organization to become more efficient, cost-effective, and competitive!

Ultimately, the metrics for success should be tailored to the specific goals of the company and the nature of each unique initiative. By looking at the degree of adoption and knowledge retention, the degree of collaboration and teamwork, the amount of time and resources saved, and the impact on employee satisfaction and the organization as a whole, you can get an accurate picture of the success of your VR initiative.

Achievements unlocked during a Collaborate session with Better Than Unicorns.

To summarize, the success of integrating VR during change initiatives of all sizes can and must be measured. There are a myriad of ways this can be done and we, at Better Than Unicorns, are here to help you design the program and monitor the progress of each initiative. If you’re curious about how virtual reality can be part of your change initiative we’d love to be your guides: book a meeting with us.