Embracing Candy Crush: Boosting Performance and Well-being
Incorporate the Candy Crush Saga into your HR strategy to harness gamification’s power, improve performance, and foster employee well-being
Discover how the Candy Crush Saga can transform HR functions, boosting performance via gamification, fostering collaboration, and innovating workplace culture. Learn integration successes, overcome challenges, and ignite new engagement strategies, says Kalev Kärpuk, chief executive officer at Adact.
How the Candy Crush Saga Is Transforming HR Practices
In today’s fast-paced digital world, one game has transcended generational divides, captivating not just Gen Z but also Millennials and even hardworking Boomers. Yes, we’re talking about the sensation that is the Candy Crush Saga. However, for those who haven’t experienced Candy Crush yet or aren’t enthusiastic about mobile games, it presents a straightforward concept: swap candies to create matches, aiming to finish each level by achieving specific objectives like scoring points or clearing all candies.
While it’s undoubtedly a game that has found its way onto phones of all ages, have you ever considered the possibility of this colorful indulgence playing a role in HR? Kalev Kärpuk, Chief Executive Officer at Adact, delves deep into the untapped potential of Candy Crush in enhancing HR practices, enhancing employee performance, and fostering a culture of well-being.
Riding the Gamification Wave
Envision a market poised to surge from $9.1 billion in 2020 to an astounding $30.7 billion by 2025. This isn’t a hypothetical scenario; rather, it represents the trajectory of the gamification industry. In 2023, the worldwide gaming sector has achieved a remarkable revenue milestone of $396 billion. Mobile games have secured a commanding majority, constituting over 50% of the global market share.
The Candy Crush Saga emerges as a substantial contributor, amassing a remarkable $220 million in revenue in the initial half of 2023 alone. However, a twist lies within these figures – they transcend mere amusement, revealing a fresh potential to redefine our leisure pursuits and professional lives.
See More: Gamifying the Recruitment Process
Gaming and Gamification – Where Does the Line Go?
Navigating the boundary between gaming and gamification might need to be clarified. Games encompass rules, goals, and challenges that users must consider to win. Gamification involves applying game-like elements to non-game contexts – utilizing points, badges, levels, and leadership to motivate users.
So, can the Candy Crush game have an application in HR involving gamification? Yes, it can, especially if employed in a context that encourages individuals to advance on the leadership board, attain rewards, and learn skills such as problem-solving, focus, strategic planning, and pattern recognition.
Consider this: a recent 2023 research study from India paints a surprising picture. It reveals that strategically incorporating well-paced gaming breaks leads to heightened competence, engagement, positive energy, and seamless workflow.
The golden rule here? It’s all about balance – finding that perfect stability where gaming propels productivity rather than derailing it. While gaming is typically associated with leisure, gamification takes elements from gaming. It applies them purposefully to transform activities and drive desired behaviors, blurring the lines between play and productivity.
Giants like Zynga and Atlassian have already embraced the combination of gaming and work with astounding success.
Zynga turned the colorful world of Candy Crush into a tool for employee onboarding, seamlessly integrating fun and learning. On the other hand, Atlassian tapped into the stress-relieving magic of the Candy Crush game, allowing their workforce to recharge and refocus through a few swipes and matches.
See More: Tackling Disengagement with Workplace Gamification
Candy Crush: Not Just Sweet, But Strategic
Why even consider Candy Crush as a workplace asset?
- Cognitive agility: Imagine games that sharpen problem-solving and creativity. That’s what Candy Crush offers – a cognitive workout for the mind.
- Thriving satisfaction: Have you ever felt that triumphant rush after conquering a challenging level? This isn’t just leisure; it’s a dose of motivation that can drive workplace satisfaction to new heights.
- Stress buster extraordinaire: Amidst the hustle, a well-timed gaming break, courtesy of Candy Crush, can be the ultimate stress antidote.
- Effortless engagement: The magic of Candy Crush lies in its simplicity – it welcomes everyone, irrespective of age or gaming prowess.
- Customization made easy: Think Candy Crush is just about candies? Think again. Tailored versions can cater to many professional contexts without the hassle of intricate development.
Beyond its potential to boost individual performance, the Candy Crush Saga has shown promise in fostering collaboration and innovation within the workplace. The game’s casual nature breaks down barriers between colleagues, allowing them to connect over shared challenges and achievements. Friendly competitions on leaderboards can spark conversations and create a sense of camaraderie, transcending departmental silos. Moreover, the cognitive skills honed while playing Candy Crush, such as pattern recognition and strategic thinking, can inadvertently seep into employees’ problem-solving approaches at work. This unexpected transfer of skills can lead to a more agile and creative workforce, where novel ideas are approached with a fresh perspective. By recognizing and leveraging the game’s potential to promote collaboration and innovation, companies can tap into a new dimension of workplace synergy that extends beyond traditional team-building exercises.
Navigating Challenges
Acknowledging that not all employees may share enthusiasm for Candy Crush is crucial. Workplace gaming only resonates with some, leading to frustration or dissatisfaction and impacting motivation. Candy Crush’s potential for addictive play warrants consideration, as excessive game engagement might undermine work responsibilities, harming productivity and quality. Establishing clear rules is vital for balance.
To address this, a solution is structuring the competition as a week-long campaign with limited daily gameplay. This preserves the significance of each play while curbing excessive involvement.
Another challenge lies in relevance—how does Candy Crush relate to the company? This can transform into an opportunity by infusing company values into the game. Before the game’s starts, participants could be asked to gather specific objects, each representing a value with its significance explained. Consequently, players associate game objects with company values, fostering value retention after multiple plays. This strategy aligns gameplay with corporate identity.
In essence, recognizing diverse interests, limiting gameplay, and weaving company values into the game can mitigate issues tied to Candy Crush’s incorporation in the workplace.
Where to Start with Candy Crush Strategy
Considering Candy Crush as part of your workplace arsenal requires a strategic approach:
- Define your purpose: Are you aiming for upskilling or relaxation? Knowing your goal paves the way for an effective strategy.
- Boundaries matter: Establishing boundaries is non-negotiable to prevent gaming from overshadowing work. Would it be a week-long competition once per day? Or a one-day competition with unlimited retries?
- Appropriate platform: Will your employees have the flexibility to opt for their preferred gaming platform, or will you furnish them with tablets or phones for this purpose?
- Competitive edge: A leaderboard or awards can tap into the innate human desire for competition, driving engagement to new heights. Using a leaderboard will always improve the reply rate if that is your goal.
- Culture compatibility: Candy Crush’s success depends on its alignment with your company’s values. A competitive culture may thrive on it, while a collaborative one might use it to foster teamwork.
From Crush to Culture
The Candy Crush Saga might seem simple, but it’s a catalyst for big changes in the workplace. By blending gaming ideas into our work routines, companies create more exciting and healthy environments where employees perform better. As technology evolves, combining fun and progress isn’t just a dream anymore – Candy Crush is making it a reality for HR.
Have you considered elevating your workplace culture by embracing Candy Crush in your HR journey? Let us know on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you!
Image Source: Shutterstock
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