Avatars in the Workplace.

This semester I am taking a Human Resource Management course, where we are learning about how jobs use simulation programs to train employees for jobs. We recently did a case study about how IBM is creating management games to sell to companies in order to train their employees how act and react in certain situations in the workplace. This video game called Innov8, creates an avatar in which employees use to guide through game. IBM states that this game is designed to help tech managers understand the roles of businesspeople, where players navigate through a virtual business unit to test their skills at ventures, including redesigning a call center, opening a brokerage account, or processing an insurance claim. There are many questions and doubts surrounding the implementation of such programs in the work place. Many have posed the question as to why the world’s most buttoned-down organizations are encouraging its people and customers to play games?  IBM supports that the skills used and acquired through playing video games, such as World of Warcraft can be helpful when managing modern multinationals. IBM’s research has shown that those who are deeply immersed in online world that link millions of players were ideally suited to manage in the new millennium, as they were skilled at gathering information, making strategic decisions, and moving on to new challenges quickly. Although some research supports the use of gaming for learning purposes in the workplace, there will always be challenges to such data. I believe that tailoring simulations to specific jobs that include missions and scenarios that relate directly to the position can be useful for employees. Although media gaming platform is typically used for pure enjoyment, this is one example that shows how games can help acquire specific skills for the workplace. There will always be speculations about video game relevance, but could be useful when used effectively.