Common Criticism of Gamification (and how to respond to it)

Common Criticism of GAMIFICATION (and how to respond to it)

by Mario Herger © 2011

©  2011 Mario Herger. All rights reserved. 2 www.enterprise-gamification.com

Purpose

The following deck lists some real quotes with criticism

of GAMIFICATION that I have personally encountered.

I provide you with a set of replies, in case you face similar situations.


The Serious Co-Worker

I DON’T NEED TO WASTE MY TIME ON FUN STUFF, I HAVE TO DO SERIOUS WORK.


The Serious Co-Worker

Why do you consider fun and serious work as exclusive? World of Warcraft players created the 2nd largest Wiki after Wikipedia. Children understand the world through play and fun.

I DON’T NEED TO WASTE MY TIME ON FUN STUFF, I HAVE TO DO SERIOUS WORK.


The “Humorous” Knows-It-All

LOL! DO WE MAKE NOW A SHOOTING GAME OUT

OF PLANNING?


The “Humorous” Knows-It-All

If a shooting game helps us make planning faster, guarantees better data, and reduces costs, the answer is: YES!

LOL! DO WE MAKE NOW A SHOOTING GAME OUT

OF PLANNING?


The Greedy Critic Or What does this say about her?

GAMIFICATION IS JUST EXPLOITING

EMPLOYEES. NOBODY IS GONNA DO THAT JUST

FOR POINTS.





FOR POINTS.

But maybe employees are having fun? They like achieving goals? Enjoy socializing and working together? Profit from instant feedback doing their job better? And maybe they can exchange points for real goods?





FOR POINTS.

BTW: Do you collect frequent flyer mails? Participate in loyalty programs? Feel good when somebody praises you? … Why would YOU do that and appreciate it?


The What’s-true-for-me-is-true-for-everyone-else-Guy

I DON’T EVEN PLAY FARMVILLE. WHO’S

INTERESTED IN PLAYING THAT AND GROWING FLOWERS AT WORK?


The What’s-true-for-me-is-true-for-everyone-else-Guy

I DON’T EVEN PLAY FARMVILLE. WHO’S

INTERESTED IN PLAYING THAT AND GROWING FLOWERS AT WORK?

Maybe not you, BUT 84 million people are. And very likely some are amongst your colleagues and fellow kettle herders.

Source: http://bit.ly/p0zmzA


The Bean Countress

GAMIFICATION? WE DON’T HAVE

MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE THAT!


The Bean Countress

GAMIFICATION? WE DON’T HAVE

MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE THAT!

If the investment saves you 15%, helps you close 23% more deals, have people finish projects faster, and as side-effect let people have fun, we should spend the money.


The Throw-Every-Requirement-at-it

DOES GAMIFICATION CURE CANCER? BRING

MAN TO MARS? IF NOT, THEN FORGET

ABOUT IT.


The Throw-Every-Requirement-at-it

DOES GAMIFICATION CURE CANCER? BRING

MAN TO MARS? IF NOT, THEN FORGET

ABOUT IT.

A game just helped AIDS-researchers solve a problem that they couldn’t solve for the past 15 years. Link: http://fold.it

Maybe Gamification is *the* way to get humans to Mars!


The Ivory Tower Critic

GAMIFICATION IS BULLSHIT!




First: Watch your language.




First: Watch your language.

Second: Come back when you are willing to give constructive criticism and not seek to satisfy your vanity by aiming for cheap laughs and thumbs-up from the mob.

What about you?

Did you have similar reactions from colleagues, customers and friends

about Gamification?

Share them and your answers: [email protected]

Twitter: @mherger www.enterprise-gamification.com

Entertainment & Humor

Common Criticism of Gamification (and how to respond to it)