Unlocking potential: Systematic review the use of gamification in leadership curriculum

Abstract

This systematic review examines the role and efficacy of gamification in leadership education, addressing a significant void in contemporary literature. Recognizing the universally acknowledged significance of leadership in diverse sectors, this study highlights the pervasive challenges in post-secondary leadership curricula, such as unclear objectives, student motivation, lack of access and practical applications. This review dissects gamification's effectiveness, identifies key outcome determinants, and discusses the hurdles to classroom implementation, suggesting potential solutions or interventions by examining 23 peer-reviewed journal articles that are published in various locations and disciplines from 2012–2022. The results cover the roles of digital tools in facilitating gamification, recurring obstacles such as resource limitations, evaluation difficulties, and identifies the challenges in formulating a consensus of an operational definition between scholars. The paper suggests the need for future research focusing on refining gamification's definition, extending its scope, and crafting robust evaluation strategies, thereby catalyzing a transformation in pedagogical practices and should prioritize the development and implementation of robust evaluation strategies for gamified leadership training programs.