In a recent article published by Forbes, titled "Beyond Buzzwords: How to Actually Think Strategically," John Rex emphasizes the importance of moving past superficial jargon to genuinely understand and apply strategic thinking. The piece outlines five core elements crucial for effective strategy development and implementation: Clear Direction, Alignment and Cohesion, Decision-Making Guidance, Resource Allocation, and Communication and Engagement.
Gamification, the process of integrating game elements into non-game contexts, complements this strategy development and implementation by creating engaging, motivating, and structured experiences. By leveraging game mechanics, organizations can enhance focus, foster collaboration, provide clear decision-making frameworks, optimize resource use, and improve communication and engagement.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the five strategic elements provided by Rex and the corresponding gamification elements:
Clear Direction aligns to Building the Reason to Play (the End Game)
Alignment and Cohesion aligns to Designing the Gameplay Strategy
Decision-Making Guidance aligns to Designing Agency for Playing the Game
Resource Allocation and Leveraging Teammates and Competitors
Communication and Engagement and Scoreboards, Leaderboards, Tracking Progress, and Celebrating Wins
By examining these elements, we can see how gamification can effectively enhance strategic thinking and execution within organizations. Let me break it down further:
Clear Direction to Building the Reason to Play (the end game)
The Strategic Framework: Establishing a clear direction aligns efforts and resources towards a common vision, reducing ambiguity and enhancing focus. In game design, this clear end goal guides all design decisions and player actions towards a unified objective.
The Game Design: Creating an engaging and motivating end goal for players, such as completing an objective, achieving a high score, or mastering a skill.
Alignment and Cohesion to Designing the Game Play Strategy
The Strategic Framework: Ensuring alignment and cohesion across game elements, such as levels, challenges, and rewards, fosters collaboration and reduces conflict. Just as a strategic framework aligns departments and teams, a cohesive gameplay strategy ensures all parts of the game work together seamlessly.
The Game Design: Crafting the rules, mechanics, and dynamics that define how the game is played and how players interact with it.
Decision-Making Guidance to Designing Agency for Playing the Game
The Strategic Framework: Providing decision-making guidance helps players evaluate options and make consistent and efficient choices. Just as a strategic framework serves as a reference point for strategic decisions, the game's design should offer clear feedback and consequences for player actions.
The Game Design: Allowing players to make meaningful choices that impact their progress and the game's outcome.
Resource Allocation to Leverage Teammates and Competitors
The Strategic Framework: Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of resource allocation focuses on strategic priorities. In game design, this means ensuring players have the tools, allies, and strategies they need to succeed, mirroring how resources are allocated to achieve strategic goals.
The Game Design: Encouraging players to collaborate with teammates or compete against others, utilizing their skills and resources effectively.
Communication and Engagement to Scoreboards, Leaderboards, Tracking progress and Celebrating Wins
The Strategic Framework: Facilitating effective communication of purpose, vision, and strategy to stakeholders fosters engagement and buy-in. Similarly, in game design, these elements keep players engaged, informed of their progress, and motivated to continue playing by celebrating their achievements.
The Game Design: Using scoreboards, leaderboards, and progress tracking to keep players informed and motivated.
For over 10 years, I have built gamification strategies for big name corporations, such as Marriott International, The Ritz-Carlton, Lowe's Home Improvement, and Bass Pro Shops. Translating strategy into game design terms and concepts helps the front line associates understand and relate to the strategy. Everyone understands how to 'play' when you turn it into a game.
If you are interested in learning how to turn your strategy into a game to engage your associates to drive organizational impact and increase associate engagement, Bold-Bird Consulting can help.
Contact: Hello@bold-bird.com
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