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Sverre Spoelstra, portrait image.

Sverre Spoelstra

Professor

Sverre Spoelstra, portrait image.

Playful work

Author

  • Nick Butler
  • Sverre Spoelstra

Summary, in English

This entry reflects on the meaning and significance of playful work in contemporary organizations. In recent years, playful work has become a prominent managerial technique to combat employee disengagement and low morale in organizations. This trend has its roots in positive psychology, especially Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow and Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory. Developments such as serious play and gamification promise to make work more fun and engaging. However, critics point out that forcing employees to play might lead to unintended negative consequences, such as resentment and cynicism. What’s more, using play to serve corporate objectives might contradict the concept of play itself, understood as a phenomenon that is meant to serve no other purpose apart from its own ends.

Department/s

  • Organizational Studies

Publishing year

2024-01

Language

English

Pages

523-526

Publication/Series

Elgar Encyclopedia of Organizational Psychology

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • Digitalization
  • Flow
  • Gamification
  • Motivation
  • Self-determination theory
  • Serious play

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 9781803921754
  • ISBN: 9781803921761