It’s not hard to figure out why companies are trying to find new and inventive ways to train their employees. In the old days, sometimes the “extra incentive” to get people to attend training was to offer free food. At the end of the day, training and skills development are important. So, companies are developing ways to not only make sure their employees attend training…but also are engaged in it and learn from it.
Gamification is one of the hottest trends in business skills training. Put simply, the strategy uses game mechanics to turn basic corporate processes into entertaining competitions. The objective is that employees will be motivated because they’re doing something fun instead of merely working or listening to a presentation.
The tactic may seem small, but can actually go a long way toward keeping workers engaged with their roles. After all, repeating the same tasks every day can grow tiring so many people become disenchanted with their jobs. However, as with any strategy, it’s all in the execution and there are some people that are concerned that the gamification of training isn’t effective.
Below is a look at the arguments for and against the strategy.
What proponents say
The argument for gamification is quite clear – games are fun and provide a unique way for employees to learn. The alternative is the same old training seminars or peer mentorship which are helpful, but can be boring.
When workers are disinterested in on-boarding procedures, they stop listening and, ultimately, learn nothing from the lessons. On the other hand, games are interesting and ensure that employees are striving for a goal beyond education.
TechCrunch notes that gamified applications can feature interactive data that can “motivate behavior change.” This is a world away from basic training. Usually, employees are only told what’s expected of them and how to complete specific tasks. Gamification allows people to actually see what they’re doing, if it’s being done properly and how to to improve down the road. Ultimately, the strategy helps workers control their training so they can grow at their own pace.
Notes from the opposition
However, some experts believe that gamification is merely another unsustainable trend. Gartner recently estimated that 80 percent of gamified applications will fail by 2014. Poor design will be the undoing of most games because companies fail to seek the correct help.
“The challenge facing project managers and sponsors responsible for gamification initiatives is the lack of game design talent to apply to gamification projects. Poor game design is one of the key failings of many gamified applications today,” Brian Burke, Gartner’s research vice president.
Gamification development requires a very specific set of skills. Companies are essentially ensuring their own failures by not hiring the right employees or investing adequate resources toward their gaming initiatives. On the face of it, this isn’t a problem with gamification, but with businesses that are merely following a popular trend.
The same could also be said when it comes to the standard training seminar. As with any classroom event, it’s usually only as engaging as the instructor.
Enterprises should only implement new strategies like gamification if they are prepared to take the necessary steps toward success.
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Scott Murray is the Social Learning Evangelist for TrainUp.com, the web’s largest career marketplace. He is also a contributor to their Training Insights Blog, a series of blogs dedicated to career and professional development.