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 :)

    • reply
      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.

      • reply
        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

    • reply
      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?

      • reply
        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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