Structured Goal Management (SGM) methodologies compel organizations to set goals, define objectives and achieve key results. When successfully deployed, SGM methods, such as balanced scorecard (BSC), management by objectives (MBO), and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), align individuals to corporate strategies and create a metrics-driven culture that increases productivity.

Unfortunately, the challenge with SGM methods is that they are challenging to implement and even harder to sustain. That’s where gamification comes in. Gamification takes the psychological principles of gaming and adapts them to the workplace. When applied to SGM, gamification creates more interest and enthusiasm around SGM processes, increasing adoption and improving business outcomes. Gamification techniques include leaderboard reports, normalized progress scores, and progress and performance badges.

Gamification makes it more likely that individuals and teams will define goals, track progress towards achieving goals, and have fun doing so. In the end, an engaged worker that is focused on achieving goals will deliver better business outcomes and feel better about their contribution to the organization.

Experts in business gamification propose that feedback should be immediate, just like a basketball game where you see the scoreboard change right after each made shot. In the book, “The Game of Work,” Chuck Coonradt, dubbed the Grandfather of Gamification by Forbes Magazine, proposes two key guidelines for integrating gamification with objectives and goals: (1) increase the frequency of feedback improves the quality and quantity of performance and (2) display feedback on charts and graphs to increase impact.