Game Theory of Motivating Workers

Companies are embracing elements of videogames such as rewarding points for completing tasks on time to make management training, data entry and even brainstorming seems less like work.

Companies are trying to bring more play to the workday.

Striving to make everyday business tasks more engaging, a growing number of firms, including International Business Machines Corp. and consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd., are incorporating elements of videogames into the workplace.

They’re deploying reward and competitive tactics commonly found in the gaming world to make tasks such as management training, data entry and brainstorming seem less like work. Employees receive points or badges for completing jobs or meeting time limits for assignments, for example. Companies also may use leaderboards, which let players view one another’s scores, to encourage friendly competition and motivate performance, experts say.

Rachel Emma Silverman

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