The truth is that making a decision involves multiple factors. That is why those in management positions need to improve their hard skills and soft skills. In this article, see how game based learning influences the life of the manager or administrator, playing an important role in companies across many industries.
Game Based Learning – Using Games to Make More Accurate Decisions
It is no news to anyone that the use of technology has become essential in people’s lives. The difference is that some people manage to see beyond entertainment and fun. That is, it is possible to play on a computer or a video game console and learn a lot from it.
And when we talk about learning by playing, it is about taking the dynamics of these games and bringing them to real life, to the workday, and to the search for solutions. Two Point Hospital and other games offer several benefits, connecting theory with practice in a playful and effective way.
After all, as human beings, we are tested all the time when it comes to making decisions. This goes from the moment we get out of bed to when a problem needs to be solved quickly at work. With words or without, decisions are made.
In business…
In the business world, the logic works the same way, with the difference that the decisions of a manager, supervisor, or administrator are usually highly relevant because they can put people’s jobs or even lives at risk. This is the case of a hospital manager, for example.
Thus, game based learning has precisely this angle: showing how important decision-making is in reality. That is, how much decisions can impact the company, the market, and life. After all, there is not always room for mistakes.
So, imagine a mistake in pricing policy, marketing, human resources, materials purchasing, accounts, debt, operations, investments, and many other areas… How much impact could it cause?
In the game, you learn as if you were simulating a real business. That is what makes administrators or any other professionals better prepared to make decisions; after all, they have already lived through a moment like that and know how important it is not to make mistakes!
Game Based Learning – How Games Work for Business
With a focus on enterprises, corporations, and companies, consider how these business games work. But we will not talk about controls, characters, or anything like that. The idea is to present the advantages of playing with the daily work of a decision-maker in mind!
1 – Learning Is Playful
The first advantage of game based learning for business is that it offers playful learning, that is, nothing boring. With games comes the idea of learning by playing. That is motivating for anyone. No more overly theoretical classes.
There are many games that make this possible. In fact, all of them have an angle that teaches something, some topic, or some hard skill. What changes is that from now on you will start playing while thinking about how it helps you at work, when you are behind a suit and tie.
Thus, game based learning is different from other teaching methods precisely because it does not compromise on entertainment. Its goal is to learn about strategy, logical reasoning, and other skills through games.
2 – The Environment Is Safe for Mistakes
In addition to allowing simple and interactive learning, the method is safe, which lets people make mistakes without the same pressure they face in the workplace. This makes it possible to test answers, make decisions, and think through very different strategies.
More than simulating (which is what we will see in the next topic), note that this idea of a safe environment allows the improvement of skills that are important for an administrator, from strategic thinking to logical reasoning.
This virtual experience made possible by game based learning is a differentiator that few colleges offer in Brazil, yet it makes a big difference in the lives of future professionals. Those who use the methodology say it brings practical results to the workday, providing a systemic view.
3 – The Possibility of Simulating Decisions
We recently looked at how Two Point Hospital works; keep in mind that it was possible to notice that there are several games that allow people’s daily lives to be simulated. We even included the following quote: “Games can be art that mirrors reality”.
This is a game that emerged as an evolution of Theme Hospital, which was about building a facility like that. The new version began to consider all areas of the hospital, from finance to people management, supplies, and materials.
That is, many hospital administrators and managers noticed that it is possible to use Two Point Hospital to make more accurate decisions in their non-virtual work environment, based on the experiences they had in online games. Incredible, isn’t it?
The Encouragement of Game Based Learning at Work
The advantages of game based learning are not limited to professionals in higher positions at companies. In fact, business games are being spread more and more among all employees.
After all, if it is possible to have a game that provides entertainment and, at the same time, helps productivity and work in general, why not use them? We recently interviewed Gabriel Silvestre, who sees many benefits in game based learning.
“I feel that it awakens creativity in me, the desire to stay there doing the day’s tasks. I really like watching Counter Strike streams and soccer games, because they are things I like and they give me a good feeling while I work”.
Other benefits are: stress relief in difficult times, improved productivity, and connection among people. Around the world, several multinational companies use gamification, whether for external or internal audiences, such as Starbucks and Nike.
