When games and rewarding activities are embedded into non-gaming environments such as businesses or online learning, it can be referred to as gamification. The fundamental aim of gamification is to incorporate competition, checkpoints, and other gaming concepts into businesses as motivation to engage employees and boost participation.

Gamification can help employees break down complex projects into smaller, more achievable tasks. Taking a project one step at a time allows employees to track actual progress and stay on task more effectively. Gamification creates a workspace where even mundane tasks have the potential to be exciting.

Though there are no set guidelines, there are two common approaches to gamification that most organizations can find helpful:

1. The first is structural gamification. Structural gamification involves taking already present systems or processes and adding in gamification elements after the fact. An example would be taking existing training materials and adding checkpoint elements and quizzes that reward employees upon completion. Goals, milestones, and checkpoints for new information can all be common elements of structural gamification.
2. The second is content gamification, which looks to transform existing content into more interactive or engaging material. This gamification often looks like taking tasks and turning them into a game. One example would be employees who can track daily tasks on an app and compare their scores with fellow employees. Exciting content, fast-paced games, stories, and strategy can all be seen as elements of content gamification. 

Related Terms: Company Culture