After last week's incredible presentations and conversations about freedom at work at WorldBlu LIVE!, a smaller group got together to brainstorm how to “gamify” the WorldBlu certification process. (I love the idea … even started creating a few taglines for the new game sprinkled throughout this post!)
WorldBlu is an emerging brand with a bold vision: see 1 billion people working in free and democratic 
workplaces. It’s also a brand with a courageous, compassionate leader in Traci Fenton and a brand that stands for personal and organizational transformation. Technology can amplify those attributes. Better yet, gamificaiton can model WorldBlu’s values in fun, fresh, experiential, scaleable ways: all mapping directly to WorldBlu’s business goals. (And thanks to @DanMezick who provided more momentum by urging us to watch Jane McGonigal’s shrewd TED talk: “Gaming Can Make a Better World.”)
O.K. O.K. There were resistances … gaming the process might cheapen the WorldBlu brand; it’d put more focus on a virtual experience vs. the authentic human experience WorldBlu stands for; gaming concepts such as earning points, competition and striving for status are just the things WorldBlu opposes in a command & control, corporate world. (But c’mon … we all want to change the existing game of business, so let’s loosen up a bit – at least to play with some ideas for now!)
Thankfully, we all agreed on the main WorldBlu business goals: 1) increase general awareness; 2) efficiently deliver more education & generate more global conversation about democratic organizations; 3) build active community; 4) get more new members to drive revenue to drive the mission – and of course; 5) do it fast, do it big, do it on a shoestring budget!
So let’s log in and imagine the new WorldBlu certification game …
After an exciting build-up to BillionBlu, hundreds of international organizations begin the journey at the same time! (Yes, once a year, participants have 60 days to complete the task.) The journey map is set out before them. Education modules and video testimonials from journey insiders who’ve played the game (CEOs, VPs, Directors, Managers, Team Members, Consultants, etc.) can be viewed and leveraged for perspective and help along the way. Points are earned for tasks and phases completed along the way. Badges are unlocked and displayed online: printable posters are available for posting progress at work. Visibility to other organizations in the process helps everyone compare and contrast how they’re individually progressing. Challenges are made by others in similar business categories, sizes, regions, cities to spike the fun. Groups can also be formed within those categories. There’s a central leaderboard to display everyone’s success. And if you see an organization that needs help? Earned points can be gifted and more points can be accumulated for supporting others. Online conversations during the game light up global social networks. Traditional media can cover one organization’s journey or the entire freedom frenzy at the big event … that is, the next WorldBlu LIVE! and the thousands who attend and celebrate! 
It’s a conceptual sketch, got it … and I’d love to hear ideas on how to enrich and improve it.
The possibility I wanted to create for now, is that authentically gaming any business process or experience can pay big dividends. It has to be done by honoring the intent and integrity of any organization’s mission and values, yet that’s an opportunity, not a barrier to creating powerful, engaging, energizing, viral experiences.
WorldBlu is committed to re-inventing the corporate game and creating freedom at work. Impacting 1 billion people in the real world might take a while. Creating a visceral online version of that vision can happen in a few months. That’s where I’d put my chips! -john4frank
[[ GAME ON! read our new frankfile for gamification tips from the experts + see the six games we’d love to play at work! ]]
Comments
by recording/filtering the best of it for posterity (and easy access).One way to facilitate ease-of-later-use might be with a custom comment form taking the "title" field (that DeSmogBlog has, among others) and renaming it "In short:" or some such.
you leverage it in your small business? Here are a few i…
opportunistic marketing or simply a misunderstanding.
and platformers are about it. If you like those kind of games, then you will like the DS. The DS lite improves on the brightness of the screen and is alot less bulky than the regular DS. Also, the outer appearance looks alot better.
The way it worked was this: The cooler I kept the house for as long as I could the more money I saved. Those were my winnings. But I also had losing. If my wife woke up to a cold house one too many mornings I had to take her to dinner/buy flowers/etc. or endure
the cold shoulder. At the end of the year I totaled the results, got rid of the programmable thermostat and cut my losses.All kidding aside, while keeping score is important, the fun is in playing the game. And Gen Y is very literate when it comes to games.
We old folks were thrilled with Pong… they play first person shooters in 3D realism. I guess what I am saying is that the bar is set quite high. It’s achievable, but you might expect a few lumps along the path to success.
DS as it looks nicer, it’s smaller and the display is brighter.