What Is Gamification?

Gamification is “the use of game design elements in non-game contexts” (Deterding, Dixon, Khaled, & Nacke, Reference Deterding, Dixon, Khaled and Nacke2011, p. 9). This definition identifies the four primary components of gamification. First, gamification deals with gaming as opposed to playing. The distinction is a critical one, as playing refers to improvisational and expressive behavior, whereas gaming refers to playing within a set of rules with the purpose of obtaining a goal or specific outcome. Additionally, actors in games are faced with difficulties often in a competitive environment. The second component of the gamification is the design. Unlike traditional games, gamification refers to the use of only a certain set of game elements. These elements compose the third component of gamification, which refers to the characteristics or features that are found in most games, that are associated with games, or that contribute to gameplay. Game characteristics and features entail design patterns, game mechanics, conceptual models and principles, and design methods. The final component of gamification is use in a nongame context. This final component of gamification is critical as it opens the door for leveraging the benefits of gaming in nontraditional gaming contexts.

The use of gamification has exploded in recent years, especially in the development of mobile apps and computer-based simulation games. The business world has also warmed up to gamification as more gamer friendly millennials enter the workforce and the benefits of gaming are better understood (Seaborn & Fels, Reference Seaborn and Fels2015). For example, gaming as a form of active learning leads to a 75% retention rate as opposed to passive learning (e.g., watching a training video), which has a 10% retention rate (Beck & Wade, Reference Beck and Wade2013). Additionally, gaming encourages trial and error learning, calculated risk-taking, and cooperation in goal attainment, all of which are necessary within the workplace (Beck & Wade, Reference Beck and Wade2013).

The current application of gamification in the workplace has focused primarily on enhancing employee engagement (Seaborn & Fels, Reference Seaborn and Fels2015). For instance, AirBaltic Corporation recently implemented a gamified electronic platform to improve employee engagement (Ergle, Reference Ergle2015). However, as the focal article suggests, the use of gamification within the workplace also provides a viable means for collecting information about potential employees and identifying talent. In addition to identification, gamification can also be used to attract and retain talent. Therefore, gamification is an effective tool for winning the war for talent by providing HR practitioners an innovative tool to identify, attract, and retain talent.

Examples of Gamification To Identify and Attract Talent

America's Army is a prime example of utilizing gamification to identify and attract talent. The game was developed and released by the U.S. Army in 2002 as a recruitment tool and has been hugely successful, with numerous revisions and updates over the past 14 years. Providing civilians the opportunity to experience combat as a soldier not only provides a realistic job preview but also allows the U.S. Army to collect data on participants. This information is invaluable to identifying high talent individuals. For example, the game provides training and skill development that mirror the techniques implemented in actual soldier training. Therefore, individuals who advance quickly through the ranks in virtual training and skill development are likely to excel in real-life training and skill development as well. The Army can then target these high profile candidates for recruitment.

The U.S. Army also uses America's Army to attract talent. The feel of the game, the options and controls made available to players, and even the design of the game portal are created to attract potential soldiers. In essence, the game is an interactive advertisement for the U.S. Army. Additionally, the use of a high-fidelity game with attractive rewards encourages immersion in the virtual environment and increases an individual's desire to play the game in the future (Ryan, Rigby, & Przybylski, Reference Ryan, Rigby and Przybylski2006). As individuals return to play the game, they are repeatedly exposed to U.S. Army promotion and advertisement. Due to this repetitive exposure to complex stimuli, individuals who play America's Army regularly are likely to have a favorable view toward the U.S. Army (Bornstein, Reference Bornstein1989). This, in turn, should improve the U.S. Army's ability to attract high talent individuals who play the game on a regular basis.

The matching concept employed by dating apps is a second example of how gamification can be used for talent identification and attraction. The focal article uses the Tinder mobile app as an example of how HR practitioners can assess person–environment fit (Edwards, Reference Edwards2008) by viewing potential candidates’ social profile information. Although this means of identifying talent is not unique, it does provide a significant upgrade to static job boards (e.g., Monster, Indeed). Specifically, it allows for active recruitment of high talent candidates that fit an organization's culture and values as opposed to passively waiting for resumes and referrals.

However, the matching concept implemented by dating games such as Tinder also provides a unique avenue for enhancing the attractiveness of an organization to potential job candidates. For example, an organization could develop an app that would allow potential candidates to “like” specific jobs within the organization they find attractive and allow HR practitioners to “like” potential high talent candidates based on their social profiles. The process of liking a specific job, anticipating a like back from the organization, and receiving a match increases dopamine activity in the brain (Schultz, Reference Schultz1998). Similar to other games (Koepp et al., Reference Koepp, Gunn, Lawrence, Cunningham, Dagher, Jones and Grasby1998), this could result in job candidates developing a strong attachment to the game and the organization, as dopamine has a direct influence on an individual's desire to obtain an incentive (e.g., a job match) and regulates the reward and pleasure centers in the brain (Berridge & Robinson, Reference Berridge and Robinson1998). Additionally, the immediate notification of a match via a candidate's smartphone could also improve the attractiveness of the organization. The instant feedback signals to potential candidates that the organization is actively interested and conveys that the organization perceives a person–organization fit, both of which increase organizational attractiveness (Dineen, Ash, & Noe, Reference Dineen, Ash and Noe2002).

Examples of Gamification To Identify and Retain Talent

Along with providing HR practitioners an innovate tool for identifying and attracting external talent, gamification can also help identify and retain talent within the organization. This is most evident through the use of training games designed for career development. For example, Electronic Arts (EA) developed an internal training program called EA University. The goal of the program is to train employees while also utilizing the benefits of gamification that EA has learned from developing video games. As a result, EA provides employees the opportunity to participate in game-based learning for developing valuable skills within an engaging and dynamic environment. Similar to America's Army, EA University allows the organization to track employee behavior and development throughout the training game process. Top talent can be identified by monitoring the speed at which employees complete challenging games and successfully collaborate with other employees participating in the games. The autonomy given to employees to solve and master challenging problems as part of the training appeals to intrinsic motivators and fosters engagement (Ryan & Deci, Reference Ryan and Deci2000). Given that employee engagement leads to a decrease in employee turnover (Harter, Schmidt, & Hayes, Reference Harter, Schmidt and Hayes2002), creating an engaging learning environment for employees will also lead to improved employee retention.

An additional method for identifying and retaining talent is through the use of virtual employee profiles and achievement systems. As employees progress through training programs, participate in special work projects, maintain a high level of performance, or participate in volunteer activities, they earn achievements (e.g., badges) to attach to their virtual profile. The most basic application is to use badges to identify talented employees. However, an organization can take this one step further by allowing employees to “cash-out” badges for real-world rewards and benefits. Additionally, organizations can post leaderboards to recognize employees with the most badges or difficult to obtain badges as a method of encouraging engagement and competition among employees. These kinds of achievement systems, paired with rewards that employees value, can be used by HR practitioners to keep employees engaged, foster community, and ultimately improve retention by creating an engaging work environment.

The Future of Gamification

Gamification is quickly becoming a multibillion dollar industry, and in many ways the industry has outpaced academic research. As organizations begin to leverage gamification to improve organizational and employee outcomes, researchers should continue to engage and attempt to understand the impacts of gamification on the workplace. For HR practitioners, the examples introduced here provide a small glimpse into the possibilities of gamification for identifying, attracting, and retaining talent. With industry and research advancing, gamification should become a valuable weapon for winning the war for talent.