Gamification, intrinsic motivation, and task performance of employees: the moderating role of goal difficulty

Previous gamification research has explored intrinsic motivation, goal setting, and performance separately. This study bridges the gap by investigating how gamification affects intrinsic motivation and task performance, especially with varying goal difficulty levels. To address these research questions, the literature review delves into three key inquiries: (1) Are external interventions capable of affecting intrinsic motivation? (2) Gamification of PMS: Does it matter? (3) Does combining goal setting with gamification make sense? The study employs an experimental framework utilising a between-subjects design of 2 × 3. Participants are drawn from the IT sector, and they are divided into groups exposed to gamification (experimental) and those not exposed to it (control). Additionally, the study investigates the moderating role of goal difficulty by classifying participants into categories of easy, difficult, and impossible goals. The findings of this study emphasize that goals should be challenging but still achievable for gamification to effectively fulfil its intended purpose. These findings integrate the concepts of goal setting and intrinsic motivation to provide a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of gamification. The study’s implications for practical application and potential avenues for future research are also explored and discussed.