Gamification is a new trend where companies use reward systems and comparison models from computer and video games to motivate employees.
Maybe some of you are familiar with the play and later film “Glengarry Glen Ross”. A competition is announced among real estate agents: The first gets a car, the second a knife set, and the last one gets fired. In ancient Rome, it was quite similar for gladiators – just with lions.
Even earlier, in the analog world, corporations rewarded their employees with bonuses, “Salesperson of the Month” plaques, and similar incentives to motivate them for better performance. One could perhaps buy a bicycle with their success points at the company or save for a cruise. Now, clever managers, like Michael Ameling at SAP, have discovered the computer game culture and are transferring the ways in which players are motivated and rewarded for special achievements to the structures of their companies.
On high score tables, players – pardon, employees can see where they stand performance-wise. Some companies even use interactive world maps, as an article on n24.de shows.
Especially companies that have done everything to perfect workflows were looking for such additional ways to motivate employees. This motivation is intrinsic, meaning it is not only based on money. And some utilize their experiences in the online world of World of Warcraft to secure jobs in progressive companies, where they can actually implement ideas from MMO reward systems and help the company achieve tremendous success.
However, the results of this gaming motivation, as mentioned in the article on n24.de, are also culturally different. Not every country reacts the same; different models are needed: In Germany, a pure points system would quickly become boring. Here, it would need to be about something meaningful, like a meeting with the CEO. In India, however, employees proudly show their badges and budges for special achievements and wear them on their T-shirts.
One thing has changed compared to earlier times: Gamification is supposed to reward only positive behavior and not punish negative behavior. So, if you believe the corporations, you don’t have to worry about the last on the leaderboard being eaten by lions. At least not yet.
As a small comment from us: Especially MMOs are now struggling to find methods to motivate their players. The first developers are already starting to treat players like employees, involving them in the game’s development, letting them create content and test games. And here, they are also learning from the industry and starting to pay players. Perhaps we will soon not only see a “Gamification” of business corporations but also a “Businessfication” of games? On the other hand – maybe we have already had that with bots, gold sellers, and eBay account sales.
