IBM is implementing monetary rewards for workers choosing healthier foods. While on the surface this sounds like an excellent idea, taking into account that money and extrinsic rewards usually detract from the intended goal this might not be the best idea.
The problem here is the usual fundamental misunderstanding of what makes games fun: we all believe that we know how they work because we play them and see that people are hunting for points and rewards. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Just like a villain is not the reason a great detective movie works, rewards are not the reason why games are fun but just a way to deliver part of the experience.
Update: Apparently the link didn’t work, so here is the original story IBM implements “Gamification”
