The Gamified Workplace: Managing the Geographically Dispersed Workforce, Part I

The world economy has made it difficult for businesses to survive due to which they create global teams to address strategic issues. These teams use tools such as e-mailing, videoconferencing, and knowledge management systems to access a wide range of human resources worldwide. They provide low-cost customer entry by operating across time zones 24/7. Gamification can be a powerful technique for creating diversity at work. Having a geographically diverse workforce is necessary for organizations doing business globally that want to reach new markets and foster a culture of excellence. It encourages creativity, innovation, and access to different skills, expertise, and experience, which provides a competitive edge. This also applies when companies are involved in joint ventures, alliances, or 186 mergers. This chapter attempts to review the gamification literature to find appropriate strategies as well as principles for addressing the challenges of managing geographically diverse teams. We bring in the industry perspective by providing examples of some of the practices of using gamification to understand the structural dynamics of managing global teams.