In today's fast-paced business environment, corporate training has become a necessity for organisations to keep their workforce up-to-date with the latest skills and knowledge.
However, traditional training methods like classroom lectures and PowerPoint presentations are no longer effective in engaging employees and promoting a culture of learning.
To make corporate training more engaging, effective, and fun, organisations are turning to gamification.
Gamification is the use of game mechanics and techniques to make learning more engaging and effective. It involves incorporating elements of games, such as points, badges, leader boards, and rewards, into training programs.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the gamification market is expected to reach $11.1 billion by 2020, up from $1.65 billion in 2015. This indicates the growing popularity and effectiveness of gamification in corporate training.
Game-Based Learning for Early Careers Audiences
Gamification is a great approach for early careers audiences such as school and college leavers, interns, and graduates. Today's early careers audiences, the Gen Zs and Gen Alphas, are digital natives who have grown up with technology and video games.
They show higher levels of engagement in learning when gamification is applied to the training. In particular, business simulations or business games are proving hugely popular for early careers development in corporate training initiatives such as inductions and onboarding.
Business simulations are immersive, experiential learning experiences that simulate real-life business scenarios. They allow participants to experience a variety of business challenges and make decisions based on their learning.
For example, a business simulation could be used to teach sales skills by simulating a sales scenario, where participants have to interact with potential customers and close deals.
By experiencing a realistic sales situation, participants can learn the necessary skills and techniques required to be successful.
According to a study by TalentLMS, 83% of employees who participated in a gamified training program said they felt motivated, while 61% said they learned more effectively.
Another study by Deloitte found that gamification can improve retention rates by up to 80%. These statistics clearly show the effectiveness of gamification in engaging employees and promoting a culture of learning.
Gamification for Large-Scale Training Events or Corporate Conferences
Gamification is also a powerful approach for large-scale training events or corporate conferences. Blending a business simulation or business game into a large-scale training event or conference helps to break up an event from the more traditional elements such as speeches or lectures.
The key is ensuring the business simulation or business game is tailored and aligned to a corporate theme and/or the learning outcomes to make it meaningful and relevant.
For example, in a sales conference, a business simulation could be used to teach sales skills by simulating a sales scenario, where participants have to interact with potential customers and close deals.
This not only makes the learning experience more engaging and effective but also helps participants apply their learning to real-life situations.
According to a study by the eLearning Industry, 89% of employees felt more engaged when using gamification in corporate training, and 83% felt that gamification made them more productive.
This shows the positive impact that gamification can have on employee engagement and productivity.
Practical Element to the Training with Business Simulations
Embracing gamification into a corporate training curriculum brings a practical element to the training. Business simulations, in this instance, offer a safe and simulated environment where participants can apply their learning and skills and learn by doing.
Business simulations can be used to teach a wide range of skills, from sales and negotiation to leadership and decision-making.
For example, a leadership simulation could be used to teach leadership skills by simulating a leadership scenario, where participants have to make decisions and lead a team through challenges and obstacles.
By experiencing a realistic leadership situation, participants can learn the necessary skills and techniques required to be an effective leader.
A study by the Training Industry found that 97% of participants who completed a simulation-based training program said they felt more confident in their ability to perform their job, while 94% said they were more engaged in the learning process.
These statistics show the effectiveness of business simulations in promoting employee confidence and engagement in the learning process.
Moreover, gamification can also be used to reinforce learning and provide ongoing support to employees.
For example, a quiz or trivia game could be developed to test employees' knowledge of a particular topic and reinforce the key learning points.
This helps to ensure that employees retain the information they have learned and can apply it in their day-to-day work.
Ready, Set, Learn: The Exciting World of Gamification in Corporate Training
There are many successful case studies of organisations using gamification in corporate training. For example, Microsoft uses a game-based learning platform called Ribbon Hero, which teaches employees how to use Microsoft Office applications.
The game challenges employees to complete various tasks and learn new features of the applications. According to Microsoft, the game has led to increased employee engagement and productivity.
Another example is Marriott International, which developed a business simulation game called My Marriott Hotel.
The game allows players to manage a virtual hotel and learn about the different aspects of hotel management, such as managing staff, budgeting, and customer service.
The game has been used to train new employees and has been successful in increasing employee engagement and learning outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gamification of corporate training is a powerful approach that offers an effective way to engage employees and promote a learning culture in an organisation.
Gamification, or game-based learning, offers a flexible and exciting way to increase engagement in a learning initiative and maximise the ROI on your training spend.
Gamification for corporate training offers a great way to engage, embed, and sustain learning and enhance any training curriculum.
Business simulations and games offer an immersive and experiential learning experience that simulates real-life business scenarios.
This allows participants to apply their learning and skills in a safe and simulated environment and learn by doing. Gamification can also be used to reinforce learning and provide ongoing support to employees.
Successful case studies from organisations such as Microsoft and Marriott International show the effectiveness of gamification in promoting employee engagement and learning outcomes.
With the growing popularity and effectiveness of gamification in corporate training, it is important for organisations to consider incorporating gamification into their training programs to engage employees and promote a culture of learning.
MDA Training can help organisations incorporate gamification into their training programs and deliver engaging and effective training experiences for employees.
As a leading provider of bespoke training solutions, MDA Training offers a wide range of gamification and simulation-based training programs that are tailored to meet the specific needs of individual organisations and their employees. Get in touch with MDA Experts today!