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I was given the following assignment.
You are approached by Ryan Morrison, the mayor of a medium-sized city in the Midwest of the United States. He has heard that you know a lot about gamification and believes that gamification techniques can transform city government.
He would like to start with the health of city employees. The city has 50,000 employees and they happen to have exactly the same rates of obesity as the U.S. average: 34.4% overweight (but not obese) and 33.9% of them are obese. 53.1% of the city’s employees do not meet the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic physical activity and 76% of them fail to meet the Guidelines for muscle-strengthening activity. The city pays for health benefits for its employees and this cost is a huge part of the city budget. Economists in Mayor Morrison’s office have estimated that a 3% improvement in the average physical fitness of city employees would amount to a US$94 million reduction in annual city health costs; a 5% improvement would save US$188 million.
Describe in general terms a gamified system that could effectively motivate behavior change to address the challenge presented above. Specifically, explain how the system would effectively incorporate intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, or both. Your answer should address the fact that this is an internal gamification project, targeted at the institutional goals of the city government. The system can use any technology (or no technology!), so long as the resources required seem justified by the scope of the opportunity.
Here is my response....
*imagine that voice-over guy...*
In a world where human dignity is a distant second to fiscal savings, one man sets out to find a way to make his money-saving strategies look like an act of humanitarianism. That man is Mayor Ryan Morrison. Inspired by The Hunger Games, His Worship Ryan Morrison is seeking out the best gamification strategies in the nation.
Mayor Morrison knows that a lack of exercise and a surfeit of junk food causes ill health, and that's why he follows a strict paleo diet and CrossFits five times a week. He cares about his health. He also cares about the health of city employees, because if they're not healthy, they're taking sick days. And if they're taking sick days, they're also cashing in on those expensive health care benefits. Let's face it: health care benefits haemorrhage money away from the city budget, where the money could be used for things like campaigning for reelection. This is an internal gamification project, targeted at the institutional goals of the city government. After all, the health care costs of the city populace do not come from the coffers of civic government. Therefore, the only players will be city employees.
A three-month probation period will be implemented. This provides a head start for all players. Some may use this time to improve their lifestyle. Some may use it as one great last hurrah, bingeing on pizza pockets and pork rinds. At the end of the three months, players in the bottom tenth percentile in terms of health and fitness will be given a choice: they can either keep their jobs and benefits, or they can be removed. If they wish to keep their jobs, they must become players in the Civic Games (this name was chosen by His Worship in homage to The Hunger Games. His daughter is a huge fan). In many gamified systems, leaderboards are a common feature. In this instance, Mayor Morrison will be taking a different approach. Instead, this game will utilize a Danger Board. The Danger Board will list the players most likely to lose.
The bottom ten players from the Danger Board get to participate in the exciting Subway Events. Contestants will be sent to a decommissioned subway station rigged up with a variety of obstacles. The most exciting of obstacles is the ever-popular Don't Step On the Third Rail. Winners get to eat a healthy, nutritious meal. Losers get removed from the gene pool.
Since 90% of the employees will have an improved health/lifestyle in an attempt to avoid the Danger Board, the city is already ahead of target goals for improved health. The dangerous circumstances experienced by the insignificant number of employees participating in the Subway events will result in health care bills. However, since these games will be televised and sponsored by a variety of corporations, there will still be a healthy profit margin. And since the losers die and mortuary fees aren't covered by city employee insurance, everything is golden.
You are approached by Ryan Morrison, the mayor of a medium-sized city in the Midwest of the United States. He has heard that you know a lot about gamification and believes that gamification techniques can transform city government.
He would like to start with the health of city employees. The city has 50,000 employees and they happen to have exactly the same rates of obesity as the U.S. average: 34.4% overweight (but not obese) and 33.9% of them are obese. 53.1% of the city’s employees do not meet the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic physical activity and 76% of them fail to meet the Guidelines for muscle-strengthening activity. The city pays for health benefits for its employees and this cost is a huge part of the city budget. Economists in Mayor Morrison’s office have estimated that a 3% improvement in the average physical fitness of city employees would amount to a US$94 million reduction in annual city health costs; a 5% improvement would save US$188 million.
Describe in general terms a gamified system that could effectively motivate behavior change to address the challenge presented above. Specifically, explain how the system would effectively incorporate intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, or both. Your answer should address the fact that this is an internal gamification project, targeted at the institutional goals of the city government. The system can use any technology (or no technology!), so long as the resources required seem justified by the scope of the opportunity.
Here is my response....
*imagine that voice-over guy...*
In a world where human dignity is a distant second to fiscal savings, one man sets out to find a way to make his money-saving strategies look like an act of humanitarianism. That man is Mayor Ryan Morrison. Inspired by The Hunger Games, His Worship Ryan Morrison is seeking out the best gamification strategies in the nation.
Mayor Morrison knows that a lack of exercise and a surfeit of junk food causes ill health, and that's why he follows a strict paleo diet and CrossFits five times a week. He cares about his health. He also cares about the health of city employees, because if they're not healthy, they're taking sick days. And if they're taking sick days, they're also cashing in on those expensive health care benefits. Let's face it: health care benefits haemorrhage money away from the city budget, where the money could be used for things like campaigning for reelection. This is an internal gamification project, targeted at the institutional goals of the city government. After all, the health care costs of the city populace do not come from the coffers of civic government. Therefore, the only players will be city employees.
A three-month probation period will be implemented. This provides a head start for all players. Some may use this time to improve their lifestyle. Some may use it as one great last hurrah, bingeing on pizza pockets and pork rinds. At the end of the three months, players in the bottom tenth percentile in terms of health and fitness will be given a choice: they can either keep their jobs and benefits, or they can be removed. If they wish to keep their jobs, they must become players in the Civic Games (this name was chosen by His Worship in homage to The Hunger Games. His daughter is a huge fan). In many gamified systems, leaderboards are a common feature. In this instance, Mayor Morrison will be taking a different approach. Instead, this game will utilize a Danger Board. The Danger Board will list the players most likely to lose.
The bottom ten players from the Danger Board get to participate in the exciting Subway Events. Contestants will be sent to a decommissioned subway station rigged up with a variety of obstacles. The most exciting of obstacles is the ever-popular Don't Step On the Third Rail. Winners get to eat a healthy, nutritious meal. Losers get removed from the gene pool.
Since 90% of the employees will have an improved health/lifestyle in an attempt to avoid the Danger Board, the city is already ahead of target goals for improved health. The dangerous circumstances experienced by the insignificant number of employees participating in the Subway events will result in health care bills. However, since these games will be televised and sponsored by a variety of corporations, there will still be a healthy profit margin. And since the losers die and mortuary fees aren't covered by city employee insurance, everything is golden.
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no subject
Date: 2014-03-07 03:22 am (UTC)From:It is important to establish that this is a professional business where there is some degree of public opinion that will be a factor in the creation of a Gamified system.
The benefit to having such a large employee base, is that there is likely quite a great deal of different motivations in the business itself.
There are a few things that need to be established before implementing a system using Gamification:
- Of the 50,000 employees, are there various departments within the company
- Has there been any form of Gamification or external reward from the company prior to the establishment of this system
- What is the opinion of the workers about their level of exercise and health
As there is a vast budget to be utilized, this would allow for a proper survey to be completed before anyalysis of the employees could be done in depth. A survey from employees is important to find out what their core beliefs and intrisic motivations are.
When considering the Gamified system itself, there are some key points to establish:
- A system involving either mobile devices or their desktop computers could be implemented. It is more likely for employees in a higher income level such as City Workers to have access to such resources. As such, this means that it can be easily accessable for the employees, and allow them to connect with others easier, which should increase participation in the Gamified system itself
- It is important to consider the nature of the employees positions within the company. Many of them would likely need to consider their public image, and promoting a more healthy work environment would not only shed a better light on the business itself, but also elevate the attitudes of the employees to better themselves (and thus increase their own intrinsic motivation.)
- With a large company, it is important to incorporate suggestions for healthier eatting habits, a forum with other employees to discuss their fitness goals, and arrange perhaps even personal training to be done at the work place before or after office hours. This freedom would help give support to those who wish it.
While a more healthy work environment is benefitcial for many reasons, there needs to be other things to draw in employee involvement. Financial rewards may not be the most effective way to promote this change of habits. Many of these suggestions would be an extrinsic motivation. Some considerations for rewards would could be:
- The department that shows the most improvement would get to have a choosen Friday in the month off. Many pople will enjoy more personal time, especially leading up to a weekend.
- Team building seminaires that focus on health and fitness such as rock climbing or white water rafting. This is to help give a enjoyable reward that the employees may not neccessarily do themselves.
- Having a lunch catered by a seperate company that specializes in healthy food choices.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-07 05:50 pm (UTC)From:We shall trial it in Des Moines in FY 2014/15.
Service to the State!
Peter Struwwel
Third Assistant Deputy Commissar
Department of Aesthetic Corrections