The power of play: How to get the best out of gamification

Ian Dowd, Director at NGA HR, on how the ‘power of play’ can push your productivity and employee engagement

Motivation in the workplace is one the of the most important and at the same time most difficult things to achieve. Motivated employees are more engaged, more productive and loyal. They are also less likely to leave the company even in challenging times. Over the past few years, there have been numerous strategies and approaches to boost motivation, chief among them the concept of gamification.

In an effort to simplify the lives of employees and make their work experience enjoyable, companies have been applying game mechanics and design techniques to work processes. However, as a recent report by Gartner shows, managers and business leaders are of different opinion when it comes to the future of gamification. In a survey quoted in the report, 53% of people predict that gamification will be a widespread concept by 2020, whereas 42% think it will not become a larger trend. With opinion so divided, it’s worth looking at whether gamification really is just a marketing fad or whether there’s something to the theory that such an approach to work can improve participation and motivation.