Backstory: A Gen Xer’s View of PM and ISD Frameworks in the Oasis
As a card-carrying Gen Xer and avid gamer, my life has paralleled the narrative in Ernest Cline’s novel Ready Player One. Within the digital landscape of the Project Management (PM) and Instructional System Design (ISD) domains, I have experienced its evolution. I’ve been fortunate to be a member of two professional groups (or clans, to use a gaming term) over the last two and a half decades: The first being Technical Writing and the second being Instructional Design. The parallels between these clans and their systematic approach, and the virtual universe of the Oasis in Ready Player One, are compelling. While my initial clan utilized PM methodology to draft software guides, my current realm of Instructional Design blends both PM and ISD methodologies. As we delve deeper, using the lexicon of the gaming world, we will unlock the parallels and distinctions of PM and ISD. With game controller in hand, gear up for a multi-level journey of quests, power-ups, collaborative missions, and grand finales!
Tutorial: How the Game is Played in the Oasis
In the expansive universe of the Oasis, every gamer begins with a foundational tutorial. This initial level sets the tone, familiarizing players with the game’s dynamics. Mirroring this, PM and ISD offer their foundational principles. Think of PM’s PMBOK Guide as the in-game manual, providing key foundational principles every project should follow. Conversely, ISD mimics the strategic intricacies of the game. This is especially true when you consider the ADDIE model and the newer models, SAM and Action Mapping. Delving deeper into the PMBOK Guide’s structure (PMI, 2017) and the ISD strategy in “Map It,” we discern how ISD, like a well-designed game, transcends traditional learning to forge actionable, immersive experiences aligned with strategic objectives (Moore, 2017).
Quest Logs: Adventures of PM and ISD in the Oasis
The thrill of quests in Ready Player One reflects the challenges and endeavors of PM and ISD. Much like the myriad challenges Wade Watts (who uses the screen name Parzival) faces in his search for the Easter egg, PM projects present their unique goals, trials, and stakeholders. Each project, whether it’s sculpting a digital skyscraper in the Oasis or launching an innovative software in the real world, becomes a chapter of an organization’s grand saga. Meanwhile, ISD embodies the riddles and challenges of the game. Crafting each learning module is like deciphering an in-game puzzle, each aiming to equip learners with skills and insights for real-world applications.
Acquiring Power-Ups: Supercharging PM and ISD with Gamification
In the Oasis, earning power-ups and artifacts (rare and powerful items) can make or break a player’s journey. Similarly, in the worlds of PM and ISD, gamification stands as the coveted power-up. Embracing insights from Dr. Kapp, we realize how gamification can amplify learner engagement and project motivation, akin to the transformative power of a rare artifact in the Oasis (Kapp, 2022).
Guild Alliances: Synergizing Efforts in PM and ISD
Parzival’s alliances in Ready Player One underline the potency of teamwork. The synchronization of modern ISD models with agile PM methodologies mirrors this spirit of collaboration, hinting at a future where guilds, or teams, merge their expertise to achieve shared triumphs.
Respawn Points: Continual Reinvention in PM and ISD
In the gaming realm, respawning signifies a fresh start after a setback. The dynamic terrains of PM and ISD, infused with gamification, exemplify this concept. As these fields continually evolve, adapting to novel challenges and innovations, they herald a gaming environment where an end is merely a new beginning.
Player’s Guide (References)
Cline, E. (2011). Ready Player One. Crown Publishers.
Moore, C. (2017). Map It: The hands-on guide to strategic training design. Montesa Press. PMI. (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK Guide). Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.