Improving employee motivation at manufacturing companies by using gamification
Published: July 22, 2026
Abstract
Gamification is gaining increasing popularity in both research and adaptation in recent time. However, gamification has experienced very little contribution to management and human resource management in a business setting. In the information technology era, employee motivation is seeking new approaches of stimulation, to which gamification could be a great solution. This study was conducted on 180 white-collar employees (out of 522 employees) in Thai Nguyen’s industrial area. Questionnaires were given to measure their level of intrinsic motivation and psychological satisfaction based on four aspects: need of self-determination, need of affiliation, need of personal development, and need of competence. Results show that most employees’ motivation levels were positive; however, some aspects of psychology did not see a notable result.
Keywords
gamificationmotivation of employeesmotivationmanufacturing companies
References
1.
Basten, D. (2017). Gamification. IEEE Software, 34(5), 76-81.
2.
Deterding, S., Björk, S., Nacke, L., Dixon, D., & Lawley, E. (2013). Designing gamification: Creating gameful and playful experiences. Paper presented at the 3263-3266.
3.
Deterding, S., Dixon, D., Khaled, R., & Nacke, L. (2011). From game design elements to gamefulness: Defining gamification. Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments, 9-25.
4.
DiTommaso, D. (2011). Beyond gamification: Architecting engagement through game design thinking. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from:
Groening, C. & Binnewies, C. (2019). “Achievement unlocked!” - The impact of digital achievements as a gamification element on motivation and performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 97, 151-166.
7.
Hamari, J., Koivisto, J., & Sarsa, H. (2014). Does gamification work? - A literature review of empirical studies on gamification. Paper presented at the 3025-3034.
8.
Hanus, M. D., & Fox, J. (2015). Assessing the effects of gamification in the classroom: A longitudinal study on intrinsic motivation, social comparison, satisfaction, effort, and academic performance. Computers & Education, 80, 152-161.
9.
Jabagi, N., Croteau, A.M., Audebrand. L.K., et al. (2019). Gig-workers motivation: Thinking beyond carrots and sticks. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 34(1), 192-213.
10.
Junior, S.S.B., Santos, R. R., Carvalho, J. S., Gabriele de Paula Silva, & Silva, D. d. (2013). Possibilities between motivation and productivity: A case study in the upper tietê. Revista Sociedade, Contabilidade e Gestão, 8(3), 090-104.
11.
Koivisto, J., & Hamari, J. (2019). The rise of motivational information systems: A review of gamification research. International Journal of Information Management, 45, 191-210.
12.
Landers, R. N., & Armstrong, M. B. (2017). Enhancing instructional outcomes with gamification: An empirical test of the technology-enhanced training effectiveness model. Computers in Human Behavior, 71, 499-507.
13.
Le, T. K. & Nguyen, D. N. (2021). Gamification elements and their potential influence on employee motivation - A literature review of models. Proceedings of the International Conference on Emerging Challenges: Business Transformation and Circular Economy (ICECH 2021), Atlantic Press, 143-154.
14.
Murawski, L. (2020). Gamification in human resource management - Status quo and quo vadis. German Journal of Human Resource Management, 35(3), 337-355.
15.
Reeves, B., & Reed, J. L. (2009). Total Engagement: How Games and Virtual Worlds Are Changing the Way People Work and Businesses Compete. Harvard Business Press.
16.
Robson, K., Plangger, K., Kietzmann, J. H., McCarthy, I., & Pitt, L. (2015). Is it all a game? Understanding the principles of gamification. Business Horizons, 58(4), 411-420.
17.
Rogers, R. (2017). The motivational pull of video game feedback, rules, and social interaction: Another self-determination theory approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 73, 446-450.
18.
Seaborn, K., & Fels, D. I. (2015). Gamification in theory and action: A survey. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 74, 14-31.
19.
Suh, A., Suh, A., Cheung, C. M. K., Ahuja, M., Wagner, C., & Wagner, C. (2017). Gamification in the workplace: The central role of the aesthetic experience. Journal of Management Information Systems, 34(1), 268-305.
20.
Xi, N., & Hamari, J. (2019). Does gamification satisfy needs? A study on the relationship between gamification features and intrinsic need satisfaction. International Journal of Information Management, 46, 210-221.
