Luciano Francisco Silveira da Silva, Jorge Renato Verschoore, Ingridi Vargas Bortolaso and Flávio Régio Brambilla
In line with the recent adoption of game dynamics to promote motivation and engagement in business contexts, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how gamification tools (i.e…
Abstract
Purpose
In line with the recent adoption of game dynamics to promote motivation and engagement in business contexts, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how gamification tools (i.e. points, levels, challenges, badges and ranking) are used to manage cooperation networks.
Design/methodology/approach
To develop this purpose, an exploratory case study is conducted on the RedeMac Qualifying Program as a set of tools to enhance customer service in RedeMac, a cooperation network of hardware stores in southern Brazil.
Findings
The results showed the motivating role of gamification in engaging associates to the network’s decisions. The findings also indicated the effectiveness of points and badges in engaging members and highlighted opportunities to apply tools of challenge. In addition, the paper argues about the constraints for ranking in cooperation networks.
Research limitations/implications
The study reinforces literature assumptions that stand for the motivating potential of points, levels, badges and challenges. However, the case study highlighted the constraints to adopt the ranking tool in cooperation networks.
Practical implications
From the managerial point of view, the study informs managers about the adoption of gamification tools to promote motivation and engagement of associates in cooperation networks, facilitating the achievement of collective goals.
Originality/value
In spite of the growth of empirical literature in applying gamification to business contexts, there are no reports of research about the adoption of gamification tools on cooperative relations in a network organization.
Details
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Leander Luiz Klein, Ingridi Vargas Bortolaso and Anna Minà
This paper aims to investigate the impact of social features of an inter-organizational network on organizational learning and, in turn, on its performance. Specifically, this…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of social features of an inter-organizational network on organizational learning and, in turn, on its performance. Specifically, this paper focuses on the following social features: proximity among members, trust among members, trust in network management, commitment among members, members’ engagement and exchange of information.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on evidence from a survey involving 101 organizations that integrate the Cooperation Networks established in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The authors analyze data by using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Furthermore, they advance to also measuring “subjective” variables to business excellence.
Findings
The authors find that trust in network management and information exchange is positively associated with organizational learning. In turn, organizational learning appears to impact network members’ performance positively. Arguably, no results about the impact of proximity among members, trust among members and commitment among members are interesting to activate a discussion on the role of region cultural dimensions in shaping the impact of social features underlying the inter-organizational networks on organizational learning.
Research limitations/implications
This study can be enriched by considering moderating variables in the relationships between the social conditions underlying inter-organizational network and learning.
Practical implications
The authors critically discuss the social features underlying the inter-organizational networks that impact learning among network members and how these aspects may be addressed to improve performance.
Originality/value
Given the focus of this empirical analysis, the authors advance the idea that regional culture is the layer of culture that most powerfully inspires the social features of networks, and shapes organizational learning.