The Pillars of Gamification
Roman Rackwitz
roman@engaginglab.com
romanrackwitz.de
engaginglab.de
@RomanRackwitz
5
/rrackwitz

Gamification is about
reverse-engineering what
makes games effective.
Games are not successful because of
some fancy design, points or leader-boards.
Since the dawn of human kind we play
games to practice to survive.
In games we chase
our better selves!
This is why I'm going to introduce you to the
5 Pillars of Gamification. They form the
foundation of most of the engaging
game-like environments like video-, board-,
and card-games but also sports, leisure
activities and hobbies. To know about these
5 pillars provides the working framework for
Gamification-design.

Information Transparency
PILLAR #1

Information-
Transparency
Relevance
One of the core characteristics of
games is that they provide us
with all the relevant information
that is necessary to progress.
If we are stuck within a game we
never even think about the
possibility that it could be the
game's fault because we
don't have access to the
resources we need in order to
succeed, right?
Can you say that for your work?

(Real-time)Feedback
PILLAR #2
Information Transparency

(Real-time)
Feedback
Personal Dashboards
In games we fail over 90% of the
time but we love it. Why? Because
we feel confident to be able to
learn from our failures and to
become better. In games we are
always chasing our better selves
and this is it what makes them so
appealing.
This is possible because in
games we experience real-time
feedback that enables us to
adjust and to improve immediately.
How is your on-the-job feedback
cycle?

Goals/Rules
PILLAR #3
Information Transparency
(Real-time)Feedback

Goals/RulesGuidance
No matter what kind of game you
play, you always know about the
outcome that is expected from
you, and how you are allowed to
behave.
Goals and rules define a frame-
work within which you feel
confident to act. Together with
Information-Transparency and
(Real-time)- Feedback it's the 3rd
pillar that enhances your ability to
perform in complex systems.
Do you know all the company's
rules and exact goals?

Room to Maneuver
PILLAR #4
Information Transparency
(Real-time)Feedback
Goals/Rules

Room to ManeuverIndividual Path
Although we love to have goals
and rules as an helpful framework,
we also want to decide by
ourselves what to do and how to
do it, within that given framework.
The most powerful commitment
ist the one we impose upon
ourselves.
Does your organisation enable
'Room to Maneuver' or does it
celebrate micro-management?

Challenging Tasks
PILLAR #5
Information Transparency
(Real-time)Feedback
Goals/Rules
Room to Maneuver

Challenging TasksNeither Boring
Nor Frustrating
If we are facing a challenge that is
too difficult we get frustrated but if
it is too easy we get bored.
Engaging activities have one
characteristic in common: They
always match our actual skills
and can even adjust to it.
This is the little secret of
fascinating & fulfilling games and
game-like activities...
...and also of your job?