Study Finds MMO Players Make Great Leaders

A new study suggests that many of the traits displayed by dedicated MMORPG players are key to successful business leadership.

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It looks like MMORPG experience points may have some real-world implications after all. A new report from IBM and software developer Seriosity suggests that many of the traits displayed by dedicated MMORPG players are key to successful leadership in business.

Specifically, the report, which can be read in its entirety at Seriosity's official site, claims that MMORPG players exhibit proficiency in, "collaboration, self-organization, risk taking, openness, influence, how to earn incentives linked to performance and be flexible in the way they communicate."

"The research proves that online games have valuable lessons for success in business," said Seriosity CEO Ken Ross.

IBM and Seriosity go so far as to suggest that businesses adopt some of the MMORPG aspects they believe encourage such behavior, including incentive structures and achievement recognition to motivate workers, virtual economies to promote information sharing and collaboration, and an overall view of the communication structure within an organization.

Several of those principles went into Seriosity's "enterprise productivity application" Attent, which aims to help workers streamline their day-to-day tasks and avoid overload by prioritizing activities.

"What we've found is that success as a business leader may depend on skills as a gamer," explained IBM director of services research Jim Spohrer. "Smart organizations are recognizing valued employees who play online games and apply their skills and experiences as virtual leader to their 'real world' jobs."

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 29, 2007 12:14 PM

    haha, yeah right... Seriosity seems to have a vested interest in these findings. All that time on the computer probably makes them very awkward around real life people

    LEEEEEROOOOOY JENKINS :)

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      June 29, 2007 12:18 PM

      I completely disagree. Guild leaders (for large serious guilds) have to deal with people all the time, even if it's over text over voice chat. They have to learn how to manage disputes as well as successfully lead the guild through the game. If you're a shitty guild leader your guild is not going to last very long. Having strong leadership qualities is a must.

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        June 29, 2007 12:22 PM

        sure i can buy that - but real life isn't through chat and voc - when it comes time to confront people face to face I doubt they'd be well spoken

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          June 29, 2007 12:35 PM

          Yay for pushing idiotic stereotypes as facts!

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          June 29, 2007 12:36 PM

          Not everyone who plays MMO's is a fat loser who shuns the outside world. Communications and management skills aren't that hard to translate from one medium to another.

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            June 29, 2007 12:41 PM

            Next you're going to tell me asians aren't automatically good at math and all black people don't steal TVs. >:(

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            June 29, 2007 3:26 PM

            Haha, you can't be an endgame guildleader and have much of any life outside of the game.

            I'd love to see a counterexample. Unless the dude sleeps like 2 hours.

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              June 29, 2007 3:45 PM

              Guild leaders don't necessarily have to be on every single night. It's generally a good idea to have other people that know what to do when you're absent. That way you, and they, can have a social life.

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                June 29, 2007 4:44 PM

                I understand you perhaps play said games, and that's great. I did too, for quite some time in fact! However, do not let said attachment bias your ability to see the situation realistically.

                Being a guild leader is an immense commitment of time. You do not do so and simpy lead a 'real life' devoid of influence from that title. You will have to give up real life interactions to ensure schedules move according to plan. It will probably be on your mind a lot, and will undoubtedly take a great deal of your free time.

                Sure, you might have a social life. But by all odds, it will be meager compared to what it could have been, and will (for reasons of simplicity) more likely be with people who play the game on a similar schedule.

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                  June 30, 2007 5:14 PM

                  lol, some funny posts!

                  I’ve been an end game DDO guild leader for over a year, the guild (http://www.nighthorde.com) is one of the most active and dedicated in the game. As Moogle said, you don’t need to be on every night, all the officers know what to do, there’s a great website and very active forum set up so the guild can literally run itself.

                  I have a beautiful girlfriend (http://www.nighthorde.com/ab.jpg) who i give all the attention she needs and in the year I’ve been running the guild I’ve graduated from university, completely restored a house (http://www.nighthorde.com/k2.jpg) and partied hard!

                  Drop the stereo type, it aint true!

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                    June 30, 2007 5:35 PM

                    Haha, it's good that you've set yourself aside as a fine exception to the rule. Inevitably these exceptions exist for everything in the world. However, the rule is still the rule. While you might be different, the vast majority are not.

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                      July 1, 2007 2:51 AM

                      Seriously that isnt really accurate, we have a photo book in the guild and i swear only 5 out of 40 fit that so called rule. Thinking back to when i was at school i seem to remember the same mix of people...

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                        July 2, 2007 12:43 AM

                        Looks don't necessarily describe your lifestyle. You can keep fit and have a weak social life.

                        The fact of the matter is that endgame MMO playing often takes a very large amount of time. Granted, if you have few other responibilities, it's no problem. However, you sacrifice progression in other parts of your life, and must exercise great control to ensure that it doesn't cause you to fall backwards. Some handle it well, many/most don't.

                        However, this is changing slightly as it becomes more commonplace to casually play MMOs, but not so much that it changes the generally applicable rule.

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            June 29, 2007 5:17 PM

            The picture suggests they do fit stereotypes maybe.

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      June 29, 2007 4:31 PM

      you're insulting people for sitting on the computer too much but you yourself just referenced an internet joke that probably 90% of people won't know wtf. Are you sure you should be choosing the side you did for this battle?

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        June 29, 2007 8:40 PM

        haha dude everyone knows leroy - it's part of pop culture - ask around you'll see

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