Leveraging gamification to enhance productivity and employee engagement in the Nigerian construction industry

Abstract

PurposeThis article aims to investigate the various applications of gamification practices in the construction industry, with a focus on improving safety and quality, project management, innovation and productivity and workforce development.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify several construction areas where gamification can be employed, which helped in formulating a questionnaire survey. The survey was disseminated to construction professionals in the Nigerian construction industry using a convenience sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using a variety of statistical tools such as percentages, frequencies, mean item scores and exploratory factor analyses. Additionally, cluster analysis was performed to obtain a more comprehensive analysis of these application areas.FindingsFour key clusters of gamification areas of application in the Nigerian construction industry were identified – safety and quality, project management, innovation and efficiency and workforce development. By integrating game elements into these critical areas, construction organizations in Nigeria can enhance worker engagement, increase productivity and improve safety, ultimately leading to better project outcomes.Practical implicationsThe identification and evaluation of the gamification areas of application in the construction industry would help construction organizations and stakeholders make informed decisions regarding the integration of game elements into critical areas such as safety and quality, project management, innovation and efficiency and workforce development.Originality/valueThe study provides valuable information for construction organizations and stakeholders looking to enhance worker engagement, increase productivity and improve safety in their projects through gamification. It also adds to the growing body of research on the use of gamification in various industries and provides a foundation for further studies in this area.

Exploring the critical success factors for adopting gamification in the Nigerian construction sector

“…One critical area of application is in training and skill development. According to Oke et al (2023), the concept has emerged as a dynamic and innovative approach to address this need. Interactive training modules, designed as games or simulations, provide workers with immersive experiences in realistic construction scenarios (Mohd et al, 2019).…”

“…Gamification can also be applied to PM and planning processes as project managers and teams can use gamified tools to set and track project milestones, allocate resources efficiently and meet deadlines. Gamification elements like leaderboards and rewards can motivate project teams to achieve their goals, resulting in improved project efficiency and successful delivery (Oke et al, 2023). Furthermore, gamification can be applied to quality assurance and inspection processes as construction workers can participate in gamified quality control programs where they earn points for identifying and rectifying quality issues (Mohd et al, 2019).…”

“…According to Polyanska et al (2022), gamification can be defined as the process of integrating game design elements and game mechanics into nongame contexts to engage, inspire and motivate individuals to achieve their goals and tasks. The concept has also been described as a dynamic and interactive technique that can be deployed to make tasks and activities more entertaining and engaging by infusing elements of game design such as points, badges, leaderboards, rewards, progress tracking, feedback, competitions and much more to boost loyalty, user engagement, progress and motivation among employees (Oke et al, 2023). Due to the propensity of gamification to increase engagement and motivation among employees, the concept has gained wide traction among numerous sectors in recent times.…”

“…(2016) also describes how gamification can be used to improve project management (PM) on construction projects. According to them, PM software that integrates game design elements can help to boost transparency and communication among construction teams whilst motivating team members to complete their tasks within the required quality, time and cost (Oke et al, 2023). Also, the creation of leaderboards that displays the productivity and adherence to quality of jobs executed by bricklayers, carpenters and painters, project managers or site supervisors can create a sense of healthy competition among workers.…”

“…Although several studies on gamification exist, very few have examined the critical success factors (CSFs) of the concept in the context of developing countries, a gap this study filled. Existing studies have majorly focused on the benefits of gamification practices on construction sites (Cunha Leite et al, 2016;Feng et al, 2022) and the challenges to the application of gamification for sustainable construction (Oke et al, 2023). By identifying and evaluating the CSFs of adopting gamification in the construction industry, this study provides an empirical contribution to a subject area where limited studies exist.…”