Fostering development of work competencies and motivation via gamification

Abstract

Work competencies can be defined as learned abilities to adequately perform a task, role or mission (Roe 2002). In the workplace context, work-integrated learning approaches are particularly promising approaches for developing work competencies while ensuring transfer and relevance for practice (Sonntag and Stegmaier 2007). However, apart from developing competencies, it is also important that newly acquired competencies are actually applied in the workplace. Hereby motivation plays an essential role. Work environments, which support feelings of competence, autonomy and relatedness, are the foundation for maintaining motivation (Ryan and Deci 2000). Gamification is an innovative work-integrated approach which focuses on the social contextual conditions of the workplace. The basic idea of gamification is to apply game design elements in non-game contexts such as the workplace (Deterding 2011b). Exemplary game design elements are points, badges, leaderboards, levels or virtual rewards (Werbach and Hunter 2012). It is expected that these elements help to develop work competencies and to address psychological needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness and thereby increase learners’ motivation in working or learning contexts. This chapter will introduce the concept of gamification and will describe its potential to foster competence development and motivation. Possible contributions of gamification will be illustrated by presenting an example from the field of intralogistics, which comprises of the internal handling of materials and supplies within specific production sites (Arnold 2006). An experimental study in this area of application shows promising results regarding work competence development and motivational outcomes.