10 Ways Gamification Can Make Your Company Stronger

Business managers are always trying to get the most out of their employees, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult. In fact, recent research suggests only 13% of employees are engaged at work.¹ However, gamification, especially when combined with the skills learned during a Master of Business Administration degree program, can engage employees and make a company stronger.

But what is gamification? It’s the integration of game playing into existing business activities, and it has been shown to have a positive effect in a variety of organizations. Here are 10 benefits of gamification in the workplace.

1. Promotes Learning: People enjoy playing games, which means gamification can familiarize employees with the latest technology and new concepts in a way they actually enjoy. Because gamification can be multifaceted and can easily be changed, it allows every employee to improve regardless of how best they are motivated.²
2. Improves Objectivity: Management constantly struggles with how to review employees and help them improve. Gamification generates data that can objectively be used to identify the strongest staff and those that need more attention. No longer will reviews be based on the mood of the reviewer or subjective chemistry of the team. Using gamification, business leaders can use hard data to make important decisions.³
3. Improves Cognitive Ability: Gamification actually increases the brain function of employees. People enjoy playing games, which makes it easier to learn new things and improve skill over time. Research indicates that gamification can give an older brain the cognitive function of a brain 25 years younger.⁴
4. Communicates What’s Next: Employees can easily become stagnant and unproductive if they do not know what is expected of them next. Gamification allows business leaders to easily communicate to employees what is next in either onboarding or periodic staff training. This keeps staff productive and projects moving forward.³
5. Increases Productivity: Gamification helps employees complete tasks and achieve goals by tapping into their desire to be seen as someone who completes their work. In a recent deployment of gamification, a company noticed that staff will often engage with a work-related game outside of work hours, especially if they know their colleagues can see their progress and results.⁴
6. Makes for Better Recruitment: Gamification can be extremely useful in helping management identify new talent more effectively and efficiently. It allows for a faster vetting process, the testing of specific skills, the testing of professional approach, and the evaluation of problem-solving abilities. Because it is a desirable component of a business, it can also help make a company more attractive to the most qualified candidates.⁵
7. Improves Training: Training can be a challenge to make useful and effective for staff. Gamification can be an excellent way to engage staff in something they find interesting, which allows the salient points to be more easily understood and retained. It also allows for measuring how employees are doing on important training points, such as aspects critical to the business model or employee safety.³
8. Offers Immediate Signs of Achievement and Progress: In addition to giving management data on an employee’s performance, gamification gives staff constant updates on their own performance. This allows them to quickly identify areas where they are excelling, and areas that need improvement. It actually allows staff members to constantly review themselves and be rewarded for progress and achievements.⁶
9. Achieves Balance: Staff members are often required to perform a variety of job functions, which can lead to conflicting expectations. Gamification allows for the tracking of those different elements and the ability to add balance. It allows people to see which aspects of their job they are performing well at, and where improvement is needed.³
10. Allows the Best and Brightest to Shine: As we discussed, gamification provides constant feedback to staff members and business leaders. This data allows for the stars and future leaders within an organization to be identified. The positive feedback they receive through gamification can keep them motivated and retained long term.³

As we have demonstrated, gamification can significantly improve a company through an innovative approach. It is also a great way to implement the business strategies learned in a Master of Business Administration degree program. Without these important skills, gamification is less effective.

If you are already working in gamification, an online MBA program might be the perfect fit. It will allow you to earn the degree you need and combine it with your software development skills. Earning your degree online from an accredited university means you can continue your current job and take classes when it is most convenient for you.

Gamification is a powerful tool to improve companies, but it is best when paired with the important skills learned in a Master of Business Administration degree program. Together, they can help you take your company to new heights.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.

¹Source: http://www.gallup.com/services/178517/state-global-workplace.aspx
²Source: https://www.messageops.com/the-three-main-benefits-of-gamification/
³Source: https://elearningindustry.com/10-surprising-benefits-of-gamification
⁴Source: https://www.trainingzone.co.uk/community/blogs/jcaox/benefits-of-using-gamification-in-the-workforce
⁵Source: https://www.business.com/articles/gamification-in-the-workplace/
⁶Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/3035257/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-gamified-work-culture

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.