One of our FinFest presentations was on gamification and a question was asked about what is the game at Pariveda. A number of game elements were mentioned as possible answers, such as our Expectations Framework (EF). The answer: Pariveda as a whole is intentionally designed like a game for individuals to achieve their highest, fullest potential which requires an infinite rather than a finite game because careers are long-running affairs. Working lifespans are not infinite but they are very, very long. For a game to work infinitely, its elements must function accordingly and that is the intended role of our EF.

The EF lays out the game levels (cohorts) and the tasks (demonstrable skills) associated with each: pure, simple and transparent. When you have demonstrated proficiency you advance to the next level and earn rewards such as increases in pay, recognition, accountability and authority. Unlike an artificial game, our game is in real life. You play on multiple levels with different levels of mastery across different tasks simultaneously, when your advancing skills combine in a synergy of capabilities across thresholds of maturity as a professional, leader, coach, advisor and architect, you are ready for promotion to the next level. You are competing against a published standard of excellence (EF), not others. The power for one’s career advancement resides with you, the individual. Our game is subjective, but provides transparency on a level playing field. We do not hide behind anything. In our very vulnerability as an organization, we make it safe for everyone. There are no losers. Everyone wins. Without the EF, our infinite game doesn’t work nearly as well. Closest literary/film analogy: Ender’s Game.

Compare our game to others’ where they reward individuals for endurance and pandering to supervisors. Numeric ranking systems are used most often (never with an EF). Everyone touts their game as objective. However, these finite game systems are entirely subjective, and not transparent, using brute force methods to advance some individuals’ careers. More hours worked correlates with learning and some of that might be relevant to career advancement even in the absence of intentionality. If you keep getting raises, keep hanging around, working more hours, learning more things, then just by surviving you might advance (about 1% advance regardless of industry or profession). The organization games individuals through a series of subjective gates. The game is all about giving power to the organization and not to individuals. Closest literary/film analogy: Hunger Games.

An infinite loop of finite games is not the same as an infinite game with finite loops. Pariveda’s game is pure, simple and transparent, with the goal to develop the individual for their higher purpose because that serves the greatest good for us as members of our organization and as citizens of our world.

Bruce Ballengee, CEO