A powerpoint I made for my project management class

1. Game Thinking in Project
Management
By Brendan Nash

2. Main Topics

Properties of games

Qualities games bring out in people

Challenges in the current PM environment

Applying game qualities to Project Management

Using games in Project Management

3. Properties of Games

All games have 4 defining traits:

Goal

Rules

Feedback system

Voluntary participation

4. Properties of Video Games

Video games have been refined to enhance
these four traits, especially feedback

Big additions with video games:

Global connectivity

Realistic/believable environments with no real life
consequences

5. Qualities Games Bring Out In
People

Main qualities discussed:

Problem solving

Motivation to learn

Management

Social interaction

6. Qualities Games Bring Out In
People - Problem Solving

Game rules limit available ways to approach a
situation

This causes the player to have to think in a
certain mindset that would not normally be used

Games encourage learning through failure

They also reward quick thinking

7. Qualities Games Bring Out In
People - Motivation To Learn

Many games take tens to hundreds of hours to
master

Mastery can be accomplished in two ways:

Playing the game (obviously)

Learning about the game (important)

Gamers have created huge knowledge bases
for many games that bring collective knowledge
to a higher standard

8. Qualities Games Bring Out In
People - Management

Many games require skills to manage:

Resources

Objectives

Time

Oneself

Others

9. Qualities Games Bring Out In
People - Social Interaction

Players in large-scale games meet and interact
with new people daily

Players also form long term groups with people
they might know in and/or out of a game

These games promote three major qualities:

Trustworthiness

Empathy

Team Building

10. Challenges in the Current Project
Management Environment

Constantly changing environment with
seemingly unclear direction

Outdated (reactive) practices/mindsets used

Requires PM's to constantly learn many soon-
to-be obsolete ideas

Proprietary standards/software usually required
to stay on top

11. Challenges in the Current Project
Management Environment (cont.)

2/3's of projects 'fail'

Most companies stick with long-standing
practices

Projects are not static and predictable, they are
almost always unique

12. Applying Game Qualities to Project
Management

Failure can foster learning and growth for a
person and a company

Encouraging creativity can potentially lead to
radical new ideas and greater success

Being empathetic and trusting of others will
strengthen the quality of the project and the
bonds between those involved

Collaborating on a massive scale to streamline
PM techniques and ideas would improve the
industry as a whole

13. Using Games In Project
Management

Why integrate actual games?

Games are used in other fields to train users and
give them a platform where failure is allowed

Feedback in the workplace can be lacking

They could make a job feel more meaningful

Games and game thinking have been implemented
in other companies and are being used heavily in
marketing

14. Using Games In Project
Management (cont.)

What kind of games would benefit projects?

Team-based games could strengthen groups

Games could be custom made to address different
aspects of an organization

Some areas that could be improved with games:
− Productivity
− Group participation
− Following guidelines

15. Conclusion

Due to the rate of improving technologies, the
workplace is moving at a faster pace than ever
before

Game thinking is being used to increase
productivity and involvement

As this trend gains momentum, project
management would benefit from adopting a
similar strategy

16. References

Castel, R. Game Based Learning for Project
Management. Athabasca University,
Athabasca, 2011

McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality Is Broken: Why
Games Make Us Better and How They Can
Change the World. New York, The Penguin
Press.

17. Game Over
Questions?