Workplace Gamification: A Scoping Review Informed by a Behavior Analytic Perspective

Abstract

Background: In gamification, game elements are integrated into non-game contexts, such as the workplace. With the growing interest in gamification, its applications continue to expand across various organizational settings, warranting further study into how it can be used as a technology for meaningful behavior change in modern workspaces. Objective: This scoping review maps and synthesizes empirical research on workplace gamification, highlighting trends, gaps, and insights from a behavior analytic perspective. Design: A literature search was conducted across five multidisciplinary databases, 408 abstracts were identified and screened. 28 articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for further analysis to examine the design and implementation contexts, the reported psychological and behavioral employee outcomes, key themes, and the extent of support for gamification derived from the reviewed research findings. Findings: This review reveals the broad applicability of gamification across various industries and formats, and its potential in enhancing employee outcomes such as engagement, motivation, performance, and professional development. Conclusions: These findings should, however, be considered preliminary, highlighting the need for further experimental research into the determinants of positive employee outcomes with gamification. The review discusses implications for design and outlines directions for future research, suggesting that a behavior analytic framework could enhance the development of effective gamification strategies in workplace settings. Keywords: gamification, workplace, organizations, behavior analysis.