Many people used to play video games, some of the most known and favorite for the majority are Super Mario Bros and Grand Theft Auto, which center on confronting failure and striving for improvement until success is achieved. From a young age, children are instilled with the belief that it’s acceptable to fail and try again, fostering qualities like resilience, patience, and determination—traits essential for entrepreneurs.
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Gaming not only instructs them in perseverance but also hones their ability to think strategically and adapt swiftly under pressure. Playing video games engage individuals in a range of different cognitive processing abilities, including analogy, processing speed, deductive reasoning, and mathematical intelligence (Hisam et al., 2018). While gaming is a popular form of entertainment for most demographics, there have been studies to suggest that gamers may possess a distinct set of attitudes and psychological profiles (Scott et al., 2019). In fact, several game developing firms have integrated some of these information processing concepts into product design. For instance, games have integrated a series of notifications and tasks to address issues of cognitive load and absorption to allow players to more effectively learn how to navigate and manage complex environments. The cognitive processes of gaming may possess similarities to over forms of information processing.
Research conducted by S.R.I. International reveals that playing video games can impose significant mental demands, enhancing cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, and memory. Strategy games, in particular, replicate the decision-making processes crucial in entrepreneurship. They demand foresight, resource management, and the ability to adjust strategies promptly, akin to real-world business challenges.
Entrepreneurs such as Ross Resnick, CEO of Roaming Hunger, and Amanda Steinberg, founder of DailyWorth.com, attribute part of their success to gaming. Resnick underscores the importance of balancing setbacks with opportunities for retrying, while Steinberg emphasizes the resilience she developed through overcoming challenging games like Kid Icarus.
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While it remains uncertain whether gamers inherently excel in entrepreneurship, gaming undeniably contributes to the refinement of entrepreneurial skills. Substantial research indicates that specific games positively impact cognitive and skill development, offering a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs to enhance their abilities.
The time spent playing video games correlates to entrepreneurial intent, via the three components of the theory of planned behavior. However, the direct relationship between video games and components of the theory of planned behavior does not originate from direct play experiences as might the entrepreneurial traits discussed previously. Instead, video games encourage meta-analytic thinking, looking at the games in terms of the strategies needed to complete them. Gamers become skilled at looking at the mechanisms behind how games operate. They know that within the parameters of the game, success is possible, so one of the keys to success is determining the way to beat the system. This thinking, with enough practice, translates to the real world. Challenges are viewed as beatable systems, and starting a business becomes simply a more complex game. This may be reflected in an increased level of perceived behavioral control. Numerous other factors may also contribute to an increased entrepreneurial intent evolving from playing video games. For example, video games have a very low cost of failure; losing a game or having a character die simply means that the player must restart. Repeated exposure to the message that failure is not something to fear may reduce the reluctance to pursue an option that has a moderate failure rate. High risk activities, with their associated high rates of failure, become annoying and frustrating as the player has to repeatedly replay the same experiences, while low-risk activities with near-guaranteed success lose much of their fun without any challenge. Another connection is that video games encourage multitasking and filtering out key data from an almost constant barrage of information. Starting a business offers the same type of hyper-stimulation and draws on the same skills. All of this may result in an increased positive attitude toward entrepreneurship. However, from the perspective of the subjective norm, friends and family members of a player may be less likely to encourage the player to pursue an entrepreneurial venture the more a person plays video games. Many people do not readily connect video games with entrepreneurship; rather, they view playing such games as entertainment, meaning they consider people immersed in the medium more as “slackers” than “entrepreneurs.” Therefore, the more a person plays video games, the less others will encourage that person to pursue entrepreneurship, believing that the individual does not have the desire, skills, or mentality to start a venture.
There has been an increasing interest to embed motivational games in firms (Huotari and Hamari, 2017; Vesa and Harviainen, 2019) by using various activity design mechanics that mimic play behaviors into nongame contexts (Deterding et al., 2011). The premise is that the mundane nongame activities can be transformed into more playful and self-directed activity to encourage the development of desirable skill sets and behaviors (Raftopolous, 2014). The transition to this “playful” process has been lauded by a variety of outlets for motivating changes in human behavior across varying contexts, including healthcare, consumption, consumer engagement and a range of training/pedagogy activities (Argawal and Karahanna, 2000; Hurley, 2013). This is because the conversion to a new contextual environment provides the opportunity for task designers to draw on theories of self-determined motivational draw to encourage sustained engagement, as individuals (users) are more likely to enjoy the pursuit of self-directed performance optimization and mastery than they are to be externally mandated (Jeno et al., 2017; Suh et al., 2017). As a result of the engagement, players may be intrinsically motivated to engage and can gather iterative learning opportunities across contexts (Siegel et al., 1997). As such, the opportunity to strategically employ the design principles of gaming offers a promising new mode for driving positive outcomes (Ruhi, 2015).
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A business simulation game, also known as a tycoon game, puts players in charge of fictional companies where they must strategize for success. These engaging tools, available on various consoles and as mobile apps, help sharpen business management skills outside the stressful workplace. While these games mirror real business scenarios, the risk of failure is minimal.
The benefits of playing a busines simulator game are the following:
Practice Soft Skills
Business simulation games allow players to improve essential skills like communication and leadership without risking their actual jobs. Mistakes made in the game do not impact their real careers.
Improve Hard Skills
Players can also enhance specific hard skills related to various industries, such as game development, medical management, or YouTube influencing, by playing these games.
Relax and Enjoy
For professionals, business simulation games offer a way to relax and unwind while still honing important career skills. This fun approach helps them face the next workday with a clear and focused mind.
Encourage Teambuilding
Business simulation games serve as excellent teambuilding exercises, bringing colleagues together in a productive and enjoyable way, much like escape room challenges. They help foster camaraderie and teamwork in the workplace.
Business Management Skills
Business management skills are crucial for entrepreneurs to effectively plan, organize, direct, and control their organization’s resources. These skills help build credibility, enhance efficiency, manage risks, implement strategies, foster a positive company culture, and grow the business. Management skills include:
Communication and Listening
Strong communication skills enable individuals to clearly express thoughts, ideas, and feelings through speaking, writing, and other forms of expression. Listening skills are equally important, as they help understand, retain information, and respond appropriately. These skills are vital for building trust, maintaining relationships, resolving conflicts, understanding different perspectives, and making informed decisions. Communication and listening skills include:
Critical and Creative Thinking Skills
Critical thinking allows entrepreneurs to objectively analyze information and make informed decisions, while creative thinking enables them to view issues from various angles and generate original ideas. These skills are essential for problem-solving and business growth. Critical and creative thinking skills include:
Strategic Thinking and Planning Skills
Strategic thinking and planning skills enable entrepreneurs to analyze information, adapt, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions. These skills are essential for overcoming challenges, allocating resources efficiently, and achieving goals. Strategic thinking and planning skills include:
Branding, Marketing, and Networking Skills
In today’s competitive business environment, branding, marketing, and networking skills are essential for scaling the business and seizing opportunities. These skills help entrepreneurs promote and sell products or services, create a unique brand image, and build valuable connections. Branding, marketing, and networking skills include:
Entrepreneurial Skills in the Workplace
These skills enable individuals to effectively create and manage businesses while driving innovation and growth within organizations. Entrepreneurial skills in the workplace include:
Teamwork and Leadership Skills
Teamwork and leadership are critical entrepreneurship skills that foster a positive and collaborative organizational culture, leading to increased employee satisfaction and improved performance. Teamwork and leadership skills include:
Time Management and Organizational Skills
Effective time management and organizational skills enable leaders to delegate tasks, prioritize effectively, manage time and resources, and maintain a well-structured work environment. These skills are vital for achieving goals, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Time management and organizational skills include:
Sales Skills
Sales skills are vital for entrepreneurs as they need to sell their businesses to potential customers and investors. These skills help make sales, pitch ideas, negotiate, and build strong relationships with stakeholders. Sales skills include:
Stress Management Skills
Running a business can be stressful, so entrepreneurs must manage stress effectively for themselves, their employees, and the business. Good stress management skills help maintain physical and mental health, enhance relationships, and improve the overall quality of life. Stress management skills include: