The world of gaming, once seen as frivolous entertainment, is becoming “serious”. In November, the surveillance arm of UK intelligence, GCHQ, said it was embedding job ads in video games in a bid to target gamers as its latest generation of recruits, and Nintendo unveiled Wii Fit, a game designed to help gamers exercise. IBM has gone one step further by introducing a video game designed to help university students and young professionals develop a combination of business and IT skills. Globally, many universities now have access to Innov8, IBM’s new “serious game”, available at no charge. So, is this the dawn of “serious games” -- computer and video games used as educational and training tools?

Over 20 colleges and universities have already incorporated the game into their programme plans, and some 2,000 universities around the world can download the game from IBM’s website and begin using it in their classrooms. In the UK, Manchester Business School (MBS) is a pilot site.

Professor Linda Macaulay, MBS, says: “The games reflect MBS’ commitment to breaking down the barriers between business theory and practice. It’s an ideal learning tool for students, for whom gaming is second nature, to tackle real world business issues in a virtual environment. By working with IBM in this way give we’ll be able to give students a head start to compete successfully in business.”

Developing skills through gaming is increasingly being adopted across the world. According to analyst The Apply Group, by 2012 between 100 and 135 of the Global Fortune 500 will have adopted gaming for learning, with the US, UK and Germany leading the way. IBM has created Innov8 as a way to teach business students and young IT professionals -- many whom have grown up playing video games -- about competing successfully in business.

Innov8 (online demo at http://www.soaflexibility.com/innov8) is an interactive 3-D educational game is designed to bridge the gap in understanding between IT teams and business leaders in an organisation. This type of serious gaming -- simulations which have the look and feel of a game but correspond to non-game events or processes such as business operations -- has emerged as a successful method to train employees or develop new skills.

Most MBA programmes are based on group projects to reflect how individuals and teams need to interact in the real world. Innov8 takes that a step further by allowing students to step into a real, dynamic business environment. The game is based on advanced commercial gaming technologies and allows players to visualise how technology and related business strategies affect an organisation’s performance. Together, users visualise business processes, identify bottlenecks, and explore “what if” scenarios before the technology is deployed.

Innov8 was designed to be delivered in a one-hour learning lab to supplement courses like business process management, corporate strategy, and operations and IT management. The idea for the game resulted from an annual IBM-sponsored competition among graduate business students at Duke University and the University of North Carolina, US.

75% of CEOs surveyed by IBM cited education and lack of qualified candidates as the issues that will have the greatest impact on their business over the next three years. A study from Gartner Group indicates six out of 10 people affiliated with IT will assume business-facing roles by 2010. 

A recent study also found 56% of IBM customers cited lack of skills, mainly individuals with a blending of IT technical understanding and business process acumen, as the leading inhibitor to service oriented architecture (SOA), a $65bn market opportunity. Innov8 will help students and young professionals develop these crucial skills.

“IBM views serious gaming as a new and exciting way to develop the skills required as business and IT become more closely aligned,” says Sandy Carter, VP, IBM SOA and WebSphere strategy, channels and marketing. 

In 2008, IBM will host a university challenge based on Innov8. Teams of students from universities around the world will have an opportunity to compete against one another as they identify and solve unique business challenges. “We are planning to be involved in this,” says Prof Macaulay. “We will also be incorporating Innov8 into the final year curriculum next semester.”

Innov8 is available through IBM’s Academic Initiative, a programme offering technology education benefits to meet the goals of colleges and universities.

Frank Booty