Gamification of the enterprise focuses on how autonomy and fun can lead to more productive work. An article from last week’s Wall Street Journal provides support for this idea with insight into the benefits of web surfing in the office. The new study on the “Impact of Cyberloafing on Psychological Engagement,” by Don J.Q. Chen and Vivien K.G Lim of the National University of Singapore suggests that web-surfing at work actually improves performance.
The Wall Street Journal went into a few of the details:
“The researchers conducted two studies. In the first, they assigned 96 undergraduate management students into one of three groups—a control group, a “rest-break” group and a Web-surfing group. All subjects spent 20 minutes highlighting as many letter e’s as they could find in a sample text. For the next 10 minutes, the control group was assigned another simple task; members of the rest-break group could do whatever they pleased, except surf the Internet; and the third group could browse the Web. Afterward, all of the subjects spent another 10 minutes highlighting more letters.
The researchers found that the Web-surfers were significantly more productive and effective at the tasks than those in the other two groups and reported lower levels of mental exhaustion, boredom and higher levels of engagement.”
We already know the importance of engagement during tasks, especially tedious ones. Research from Oxford has already demonstrated that playing games in between work tasks can also improve performance. Similarly, taking small breaks to look at websites you like can actually help you to focus better on your work and has a rejuvenating effect – almost like going for a snack break- rather than drudging through a chore than can become tedious and dull. Refreshed, relaxed workers are more productive and under less stress. The more research done, the more we find that fun makes people more productive!
Gamification Co will be hosting it’s second Gamification Summit in New York on September 15-16. Join keynotes from Gilt Groupe CEO Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and 42 Entertainment’s founder, Susan Bonds, to learn how the new science of engagement is rewriting the rules of product design. We are also offering the first ever Certificate in Gamification. For Gamification Blog readers, use discount code GCOBLOG for 25% off at http://gsummit.com/register. We look forward to seeing you there!
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