Games for change

Dr Elissa Farrow
July 4, 2014

I recently became a community member for cultureQs®, an innovative change game that was created by a chap called Eric Lynn, who lives in Germany. cultureQs® is a board game with a structure around it for setup, play, debrief and utilisation. It involves cards with questions, counters, a dice and board. I have seen people quickly gain a clear understanding of their own drivers and also a clear understanding of their colleagues’ drivers.

“Change starts with you,” I always say and the use of modern technologies and group approaches often categorised under gamification can really provide a change manager with additional tools to break down boundaries and build up shared knowledge and dialogue.

Why is gamification something we need to incorporate in our change approaches? Games have been around for centuries and their history was based around learning. Even modern day Monopoly provides some knowledge about finance, budgeting, wise investment. Games do not have to be electronic or technological. They can be simple and practical and empowering that can be applied to all people, not just those who are technically literate.

cultureQs is a game that does not have a competitive outcome. There is no winner and no loser: it is about meaningful engagement, which is what drew me to it as well as what drew me to Eric, who manifests a similar peaceful and locally mindful practice and model in his work.

Game questions are deep and insightful such as “what is a significant celebration in your culture and how do you celebrate it?”, “what does respect mean to you?”, “what would be a common practice when introducing a younger person to an older person in your culture?”. After even one hour or so you get a pretty deep and solid view on a person and their history and their personality and their culture. I encourage you to get connected and check out how games like cultureQs can bring a vital change to your team and for yourself.

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Dr Elissa Farrow
Dr Elissa Farrow is a founder and lead consultant for About Your Transition and has extensive experience in strategic organisational adaptation design, facilitation and delivery. Elissa has supported organisations to define positive futures and then successfully transform to bring lasting benefits. She has proven adaptive capacity and can successfully transfer her skills to different contexts. In 2022, Elissa was awarded her doctorate through the University of the Sunshine Coast. Her published research explores organisations of the future and how they will need to adapt to the evolving field of artificial intelligence. Elissa is an experienced board director and thought leader in her field, having won a number of awards for her research and for her contributions to Women in Project Management.
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