We were brainstorming some PR campaign ideas for a client today and gamification came up as a great topic for them comment on. The client is in HR so new ways to engage with employees is at the top of the topic list but increasingly we’re seeing it used more and more often in the technology and mainstream media too.
Gamification is a means of delivering content using game mechanics, whether that’s problem solving, competition or game thinking. It makes sense really – we’re all used to micro apps these days, whether that’s on a mobile device or desktop, at home or at work. We use them to manage our weight loss, record TV, and even register how happy we are.
So does that now mean that we’re unable to respond, interact, or communicate unless we’re engaging with a cut down, ‘fun’ and simplified version of content? Twitter is the prime example of this. But sometimes you need more than 140 characters to explain something.
The adoption of gamification techniques is being driven by the increasing number of generation Ys in the workplace. This significant employee group grew up interacting in short form, are comfortable with technology and most have grown up with gaming. These employees are driven by a need to be engaged in the workplace.
Not surprisingly, employers are concerned about making the workplace too much fun – after all it is work. Are we however reaching a tipping point where to keep the workforce motivated every interaction needs to be gamified (and no it’s not a real word) in order to keep the attention of gen Y? Or should they just get on with it, as the generations before them did?
