Corporate Gaming Is Good For Business 151
The Economist is running a story about how gaming is on the rise in corporate environments, and how games are also becoming a popular tool for advertising. From internally developed games to commercial offerings to simply creating a framework in which employees can interact, game-based competitions and community building are leading to increased productivity, even for Fortune 500 companies. Quoting:
"Take Microsoft's own experience. Before it releases a new version of its Windows operating system, it asks staff to help debug the software by installing and running the system. In the past, project managers had to spend a great deal of time and effort persuading busy Microsoftees to help them with this boring task. So for Windows Vista, the system's latest incarnation, Microsoft created a game that awarded points for bug-testing and prizes such as wristbands for achieving certain goals. Participation quadrupled."
Re:QA (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Cuz, gee, wristbands = $$$ (Score:3, Informative)
They didn't quadruple productivity, they quadrupled participation in the program. Participation and productivity are different metrics.
Economics only seems like a load of bullshit if you don't understand it and don't make an attempt to.
Re:Awarding points? (Score:2, Informative)
So, the pirates are kind of like Robin Hood.
The pirates use the proceeds from armed robbery to bribe the commoners into supporting the return to power of a king who has been off fighting a religious war?