Digital Platform Gamification in Human Resource Management Practice

With the rapid advancement of technology, algorithmic management has become a cornerstone of platform operations, and work gamification—a derivative of algorithmic management—has garnered significant attention. This study adopts an interdisciplinary approach that integrates human resource management and computer science to construct a chained mediation model, investigating the impact of work gamification design on gig worker participation and its potential to reduce turnover. Drawing on the Cognitive-Affective Processing System theory, this research analyzes survey data from 370 delivery riders to validate the direct effect of work gamification on platform participation. It also reveals the partial mediating roles of goal integration (cognitive dimension) and platform identification (affective dimension) in this relationship. The findings indicate that work gamification enhances participation by fostering a sense of goal alignment and platform belonging. Furthermore, this study applies algorithmic management principles to gamification design, illustrating how computer science can optimize human resource management practices. These findings provide empirical support for personalized algorithm-driven gamification systems, fostering sustainable development in the gig economy.