Articles

Games and Gamification in Communications: Why Should We Care?

A brownbag webinar was held on February 12 featuring a presentation by Shel Holtz, ABC, principal, Holtz Communications + Technology.  His topic was “Not Playing Around:  Games and Gamification in Communications”. The webinar was held in one of the shiny new meeting rooms at theSan Antonio Area Foundation’s offices at the Pearl.

Did you know that 61% of “C-suite” denizens take game breaks around 2:30 every afternoon?  Or that games are used by corporations such as Marriott to attract and evaluate potential new employees?  Games are also used in many workplaces to encourage learning, goal attainment, and healthier behavior. 

Some companies combine gamification with humor to get people to modify their behavior (check out www.thefuntheory.com).  And in the discussion held in conjunction with the webinar, one attendee –who was sporting a high-tech electronic pedometer -- talked about the fitness competition that is sponsored at his workplace to encourage employees to do more walking. 

- Gretchen Roufs