The power of play: gamification in virtual workplace training
研究了虚拟职场培训中游戏化强度对员工感知自主性和培训效果的影响，发现游戏化强度反而降低了自主性，且自主性只影响情感性结果而非绩效结果，对实践者设计培训有警示作用。
Organizations face growing pressure to upskill their employees and provide effective and engaging training, leading to significant investments in virtual workplace training (VWT). However, the effectiveness of VWT, particularly when incorporating game elements, remains unclear. To address this, this study examined the impact of gamification intensity on perceived autonomy and its effect on training outcomes. Additionally, it explored whether self-efficacy played a moderating role in these relationships. Using a between-subjects design, we manipulated gamification intensity (low, medium and high levels) and asked 355 employees to complete a VWT and a retention test. In contrast to our expectations, gamification intensity negatively affected perceived autonomy. Furthermore, perceived autonomy had a positive impact only on affective but not on performance-related training outcomes. Also, we found no evidence of the mediating role of perceived autonomy or the moderating role of self-efficacy in these relationships. Regarding the retention test, gamification intensity negatively affected perceived autonomy and both affective and performance-related training outcomes. Our findings challenge the belief that gamification intensity enhances satisfaction and training success and underscore the importance of autonomy in VWT. We discuss how our findings can guide researchers and practitioners to promote sustainable training success in organizations.