Ethics & Compliance Learning
New Ethics & Compliance Research Reveals Gamification’s Future Lies in Storytelling, Not Scores
The future of gamification in ethics and compliance (E&C) training? It lies in immersive storytelling. According to the SAI360 Learning Content Survey, which was conducted in December 2024 among product user groups, most respondents indicated a preference for branching scenarios. Here, learners navigate a story by making decisions that impact the outcome.
This shift arguably marks a noted departure from traditional gamification strategies. Think leaderboards and token-based rewards (which were far less favored by participants).
Survey findings reveal that instead of superficial incentives, E&C storytelling needs to engage learners on a deeper level by placing them in realistic scenarios that mirror workplace challenges. For example, a course might simulate a situation where a manager must balance client demands with ethical obligations, forcing learners to think critically and consider the consequences of their actions.
60% of respondents said courses that evaluate a learner’s actions through different POVs and score them is a potential gamification use that will be critical in their ethics and compliance training.
Gamification techniques that evaluate decisions from multiple perspectives, such as those of regulators or vendors, were also valued by a significant portion of our survey respondents. This approach perhaps emphasizes the complexity of ethical decision-making and fosters a more nuanced understanding of compliance requirements.
85% of respondents said courses that immerse the learner in a story where they must navigate a goal through branching scenarios is a potential gamification use that will be critical in their ethics and compliance training.
While badges and tokens were cited by a smaller percentage of participants (about 30 percent), and leaderboards by even fewer (about 20 percent), these results suggest that gamification’s value lies not in competition but in creating meaningful, context-rich learning experiences.
The survey’s findings overall highlight a growing recognition of storytelling as a powerful tool for ethics training. Why does this matter? By immersing employees in relatable narratives, companies can promote engagement while equipping their workforce with the skills needed to navigate the actual ethical dilemmas colleagues are perhaps most likely to face. It can be considered almost a dress rehearsal of sorts. All in all, the future of gamification isn’t really about scoring points—it’s about shaping behaviors and fostering accountability.
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