I rather share my knowledge. Applying gamification approach and nudge theory to develop an incentive system
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-04-2019-0052 |
| Pages | 203-217 |
| Date | 18 October 2019 |
| Published date | 18 October 2019 |
| Author | Yasha Afshar Jalili |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
I rather share my knowledge
Applying gamification approach and nudge
theory to develop an incentive system
Yasha Afshar Jalili
Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch,
Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to propose an approach by understandinghow Oil Industries’Commissioning
and Operation Company (OICO) company fostered its knowledge sharing (KS) by using gamification
approach and nudge theory. It also ascertains the process and challenges that OICO confronted during its
three-yearjourney for improving its organizationalknowledge performance.
Design/methodology/approach –The study useda qualitative research method and case studydesign.
Data were collected from severalsources, including the first-hand experiences and observations of the author
during contributing in the company’s canonical action research, several in-depth face-to-face interviews
conducted with the KM Departmentteam members, the data gathered from the company’s KM software and
studyingthe related organizational procedures and documents.
Findings –The results reveal that the gamification approachsuits for developing KS reward system and
knowledge performance management. It also explains that informingproject managers about their project’s
knowledge performance accompanied by emoticons would lead to higher supports of KM. The proposed
approachby this case study improved the organizational KS and performanceby 22 per cent semi-annually.
Practical implications –The described caseis detailed deeply and would help KMers to follow iteasily.
The study would spark some ideas of how to use nudge theory in KM context. Besides,KMers can design a
KM reward systembased on the explained case.
Originality/value –This study contributes to the KS and KM rewarding system, especially in project-
based organizations, as limited studies have been conducted to investigate the roles that the gamification
approachcan play in this field. Moreover, this is the first time that use of nudge theory and choice architecture
is investigatedin the context of KM.
Keywords Knowledge sharing, Choice architecture, Knowledge management, Gamification,
Canonical action research, Nudge theory, Reward system, Case study
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Undisputedly, knowledge is one of the most significantorganizational resources that in the
past two decades has drawn attention as an organizational competitive advantage (Gelard
et al.,2014;Philsoophian et al.,2016), and hence, it is worthy to be managed and shared
effectively. Organizations can derive several benefits from well-established knowledge-
sharing (KS) practices, such as human resource improvement (Malik and Kanwal, 2018),
market development and penetration, improving management–employee relations,
individual, workgroup and organizationalperformance and productivity improvement, and
enhancing organizationallearning and innovation (Connelly and Kelloway, 2003;Tohidinia
This work is a result of the KM Implementation project which has been supported by OICO company.
The author thanks Masoud Shahhosseini, Dr Esmaeil Abdoli and other KMD team members for their
kind support.
Gamification
approach and
nudge theory
203
Received15 April 2019
Revised11 September 2019
Accepted18 September 2019
VINEJournal of Information and
KnowledgeManagement Systems
Vol.50 No. 2, 2020
pp. 203-217
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5891
DOI 10.1108/VJIKMS-04-2019-0052
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