Gamified strategy activation for BDO

The challenge

We designed an audio-based game in which employees had to take a stand on dilemmas. This made BDO’s core values and competencies truly resonate in an impactful way.

Real change requires more than just a conversation or presentation. That’s why BDO asked us to develop a gamified strategy activation that brings the new core values and competencies to life within the organization.

Our fresh perspective

BDO Beats: an audio-based game

Real change starts with courage, with experimentation, with trial and error. We designed an audio-based game that 130 participants can play simultaneously in one hour. In the game, the players feel and experience what the core values mean in practice. We challenge them to embrace discomfort.

Showing your true colors

Players are challenged to take a stand (to show their true colors) on tough, real-life dilemmas where they must use the core values as a compass. Their choices – and those of their colleagues – become physically visible in the space, leading to surprising and meaningful conversations.

Gamified strategy activation: the result

Through play, participants learn what BDO’s core values are and how they relate to their own values. Afterwards, they say that the core values are now ‘top of mind’ and that the game sparks conversations. The game has engaged over 3,000 BDO employees and has now become a permanent part of the onboarding program.

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"You’re really forced to reflect on your sense of ‘what would I do in real life,’ and that’s exactly what the game was designed for."

Marijn van der Welle, client at BDO

In brief 🧺

Our colleagues

Tommy

Maarten M.

Yannick

Jop

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Strategy activation for Stichting Laurens

The challenge

Stichting Laurens is committed to helping people live as independently and meaningfully as possible as they age, recover from illness or live with permanent disabilities.

To continue providing high-quality care now and in the future, Laurens has refined its strategy and asked Frisse Blikken to activate it among their top 150 leaders.

Our fresh perspective

From awareness to action

In close collaboration with Laurens’ project team, we developed a diverse program that takes the needs of the target audience into account. Using the ‘understand-feel-act’ methodology, we developed various interventions to really get the strategy across.

Strategy activation Laurens: a gamified experience

Even before the program began, the room was filled with actors who immediately pushed the leaders out of their comfort zones. The actors made remarks or asked questions about the strategy, setting the stage for the opening scene, which sharply highlighted the challenges ahead.

We designed three custom-made games to bring the strategy to life: an interactive audio experience inspired by the Dutch TV show Over de Streep (which encourages participants to step forward and share personal experiences), a role-playing card game where they solved cases from various Laurens perspectives, and a challenging escape room.

The grand finale: the strategy safari

The venue was transformed into an inspiring experiential world, filled with visual and interactive elements that brought the strategy to life. Think of stories about elderly care in other countries, the ‘Laurens Date Café’ where genuine conversations took place, a digital care corner inspired by the Rotterdam MediaMarkt, discussions with the board – and many more creative installations.”

“It was a day that not only made an impression, but more importantly boosted the engagement needed for the strategy to succeed.”

Jonathan Mostert, Frisse Blikken colleague

In brief 🧺

Our colleagues

Jonathan

Christie

Yannick

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An inclusive work environment for GVB

The challenge

How do you contribute to creating a pleasant and inclusive work environment together with colleagues? We developed an e-learning course and a manager's toolbox.

What behavior do we collectively view as acceptable, and what do we not? As a result of the employee satisfaction survey, GVB decided to give extra attention to this important topic, “workplace interactions”.

Our fresh perspective

Personal stories

To truly understand what’s going on, we went out into the field. We rode the bus, tram, metro, and ferry, listening to the stories of employees. This first-hand experience made the content of the interventions highly relevant and relatable to the target audience. As a result the interventions were even more impactful.

Three e-learning courses on "workplace interactions"

These employees are always on the move – on trams, buses, and ferries. They can’t simply take a whole day off for a training or event. So, how do we reach them?

We developed three easily accessible e-learning courses on interactions in the workplace. These focused on acceptable behavior, unacceptable behavior, and the role cultural differences play in this. The trainings are flexible, allowing employees to take them anytime, anywhere.

The manager's toolbox: discussing interactions in the workplace

For managers, we designed an interactive dialogue game as a basis for an open and valuable conversation with their employees in operations. During the launch with 150 managers, the toolbox was received with great enthusiasm and appreciation. Meaningful conversations started right away. In the challenging context of GVB, this toolbox offers a simple, short-term solution that managers believe is a step in the right direction.

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"I found the collaboration with Frisse Blikken very refreshing. They provided great input and were able to truly understand our organization. You can see that reflected in the products and in their level of involvement."

Jeffrey Kronenburg, client at GVB

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Christie

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Digital Escape Room

The challenge

Aegon asked us: can we make presentations to students a little less boring? Can we introduce our four departments and corporate culture in an interactive way? Of course we can!

In a competitive landscape of potential employers, how do you capture students’ interest? For AEGON we tackled this challenge by developing a digital escape room.

Our solution

Digitalizing recruitment events

The Aegon Campus Recruitment Team is responsible for attracting bright young talent to their company. From career events to in-house days, they’re always on the lookout. Aegon wants to level up their recruitment activities by organizing digital events, making participation easier for candidates across the whole country. Moreover, a digital event, with a well-crafted format, is easier to execute for the campus recruitment team. So, we got to work!

Immersive storytelling: The Future of Aegon

Together with the project group, we outlined specific learning objectives for the game. What should a student learn about Aegon’s culture? Based on that, we crafted an immersive storyline: The Future of Aegon.

In The Future of Aegon, players step into the role of board advisors for a day. They must tackle the question: “If I could shape Aegon’s future twenty years from now, what changes would I make today?”. Players are fully engaged in the storyline through a professional introduction video.

Exploring the company culture through puzzles

The escape room comprises four puzzles, each representing a different department. These puzzles were co-created with colleagues from these departments to closely mirror real-life scenarios.

Each puzzle is introduced with its own video, simulating a video call with actual Aegon colleagues. These colleagues not only explain the puzzle but also elaborate on how it aligns with the company culture.

After playing our game, 75% of players express a desire to work at Aegon. Moreover, all players prefer the escape room over other forms of company introduction, such as slides or case studies – a result that fills us with pride!

75% of the students expressed interest in working for Aegon after playing the game.

Aegon

In short 🧺

Our team

Klaas Jan

Tim J.

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Gamified selection process for trainees

Culture and values trajectory

Aegon

Digital Escape Room

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Gamified selection process for trainees

The challenge

For the traineeship of Boskalis, we developed a surprising selection process to inform, enthuse and select talent.

Boskalis is a leading global service provider and contractor in areas such as dredging, offshore energy and maritime services. Since 2018, we have been supporting them in the selection process of their traineeship. Below you can read what that looked like in 2023.

Our solution

Eye-catching recruitment stunt

To make potential candidates enthusiastic about Boskalis’ Operations Traineeship, we made use of an eye-catching coffee truck. With this truck we have visited several universities. This gave us the chance to talk to students about career opportunities at Boskalis.

Smooth candidate communication

During the selection process, we were responsible for a surprising communication flow. We maintained close contact with the candidates. How? With communication that appeals to the new generation! Think of personal videos and online webinars.

Gamified selection day

The highlight and final round in the process was the selection day. During this day, candidates were able to truly experience Boskalis. Together with our Fresh Game Studio we developed a serious game. Candidates worked for four hours on a real Boskalis challenge. The day also included a divisional dinner and a haka clinic. At the end of the day, the cadidates left with a smile on their faces.

"With creativity and a very pleasant collaboration, a fantastic result was achieved: a tailor-made selection game in which the Boskalis core values are clearly presented."

Boskalis

In het kort 🧺

In short 🧺

Our team

Amy

Tim J.

Noor

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Game-changing employer branding: a personality test

The challenge

FrieslandCampina has asked us to develop a personality test that highlights their employer brand.

FrieslandCampina already possesses a strong employer brand. But how do you keep capturing attention? We have created an online and gamified personality test that highlights FrieslandCampina’s unique attributes and helps them to stand out as an employer of choice.

Our solution

The natures of FrieslandCampina

FrieslandCampina’s employer branding is centered around its so-called “natures.” These natures describe a person’s natural behavior. In total, there are twelve natures that a person can have to a greater or lesser extent.

Our task was to develop a test enabling individuals to identify their specific natures. Following this test, participants can explore job opportunities that align with their natural tendencies. At FrieslandCampina there is a fitting rol for everyone.

An online personality test

We developed a gamified test. During the test, participants engage in two scenarios. First you spend a day at the farm. Afterwards you visit the factory. Through making decisions in true-to-life FrieslandCampina scenarios, our game constructs a personalized personality profile. This was quite a challenge! Based on only eight questions we tried to distinguish all twelve natures, without getting too technical. In addition, we had to highlight FrieslandCampina’s atmosphere and supply chain.

Boost the employer brand

Players are impressed with the accuracy of the results, and the test has gained significant traction on LinkedIn, resulting in over 20,000 players. Therefore it is one of our most played games.

In short 🧺

Our team

Maarten M.

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Digital onboarding game

The challenge

Help us to onboard our new colleagues into our company mission in an exciting and effective way.

As of 2021, Versuni (previously Philips Domestic Appliances) is no longer part of Royal Philips. As a new organization, with a unique culture, they want to onboard their new people in their own way. Showing their employees that they are important to them by being unique and creative.

Our solution

A solution at scale

We came up with a scalable solution that gets new colleagues excited and ready for work. We started with researching the target audience, learning objectives, content and existing ideas. Together, we identified the needs of for onboarding. By using our agile way of working, we designed and developed an onboarding game and an interactive onboarding booklet. Together, these two tools ensure that new colleagues are up to speed quickly, are enthusiastic about Versuni and have enough knowledge to show co-ownership and realize the Versuni ambitions.

Online onboarding game

The result is a comprehensive and realistic onboarding game that introduces new colleagues to the Versuni purpose, culture and values. It teaches them where they can find information about work at Versuni and enables them to find the answers to their questions in the future by creating overview and structure.

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Our team

Inez

Tommy

Tim J.

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Versuni

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Employee referral platform

The challenge

How can we motivate employees to engage their personal networks for open vacancies in a surprising way?

With the Employee referral platform, you activate your employees in contributing to recruitment activities.

Our solution

Employee referrals

Currently, there are more job openings than job seekers. Almost every employer is struggling with the labor shortage. A good recruitment strategy is more important than ever. Did you know that job seekers place significant value on the opinions of people they know in their personal networks? Consequently, activating your employees to make candidate suggestions (also known as referrals) is essential. After all, your current employees are probably best at assessing if someone will make a good addition to the company.

Employee Referral Platform

Based on previous projects and extensive feedback research, we have built an Employee referral platform that motivates your colleagues to perform recruitment activities in a gamified way. We lower the barrier by breaking down recruitment into smaller, more manageable steps. By including the narrative of your employer brand on the platform, we complete the employee experience. In addition, we can help with activation campaigns to roll out the platform within your organization.

The benefits

With an Employee referral platform, your employees are motivated to contribute to recruitment. This will result in:

Lower recruitment costs

You save time and costs that you would normally invest in recruitment

Higher quality among candidates

Referrals not only result in more candidates, but also provide the highest quality.

Longer average retention

Of all referrals, 56% stay with their new employer for at least five years

Want to know more about the possibilities? We can give you more information in half an hour (digitally). Simply get in touch with us.

Sources: Randstad & Formstack

Our team

Sjoerd

Vera

Britt

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Versuni

Digital onboarding game

Aegon

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Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat

From complex story to inspiring narrative

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Continuing to connect company doctors in training

The challenge

The three-year anniversary of Arbo Unie’s traineeship for company doctors was the incentive to bring together its trainees and alumni to strengthen this valuable network. We got it done.

Our fresh perspective

About Arbo Unie

Arbo Unie improves the vitality and health of working people, making organizations more successful. Together with its employers and employees, Arbo Unie focuses on employee wellbeing and deployability by optimally supporting their personal and professional choices.

Approach

Tight network

Arbo Unie’s traineeship is the entrance point into a tight network of company doctors (in training). In order to strengthen this network, the organization had envisioned a recurring day event.

The request was to create an inspiring event that was not only rich in terms of content, but also fun – and which would lead to the development of continuing connections. A day during which company doctors in training and alumni are able to meet and support one another with personal challenges in an innovative and inspiring way.

The first edition in 2021 was the start of a creative co-creation that lasted for four years, and which Arbo Unie is now continuing internally.

Stepping outside their comfort zone

Most meetings of (future) company doctors are primarily content driven. This made the way this event was shaped unique for its participants. Each year, we introduced new, fresh elements. These included personal development workshops based on the Japanese Ikigai concept, boat trips aimed at collaboration, and a talk show with practical experts about the future of the company doctor.

The carefully selected locations, including the Metal Cathedral in Utrecht and Zwier by the Vinkeveense Plassen, added to the events’ inspiring nature. By giving participants the freedom to choose from the various activities on offer, they were in control of their day, while some of the activities nonetheless challenged them to step outside their comfort zone.

In their own words, we created a “perfect mix for this ambitious group.”

Result

The results have been nothing short of impressive. Participation numbers have grown each year – with some participants valuing the event so much that they return annually. The last edition had no fewer than 43 participants from all over the country. The event has contributed to the development of strong bonds between trainees and alumni, and has also improved the connections between the company doctors (in training) and Arbo Unie.

“Frisse Blikken really got to the heart of the matter. Paying careful attention to the right balance between content, fun, and connection, they surprised us again and again. The right organization, educational workshops, and stimulating elements for development and connection proved their value.”

Arbo Unie

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Versuni

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Lamers Installations

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The National Children’s Rights Dialogue

The challenge

The annual Children’s Rights Dialogue was set up to strengthen collaboration among all organizations contributing to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Frisse Blikken designed, organized, and facilitated this crucial gathering.

Our fresh perspective

About the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport

The Netherlands’ Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport (VWS) is committed to the health,
resilience, and vitality of all Dutch citizens. It addresses a wide range of topics, with the
medical and mental healthcare of the Dutch population as its central focus.

The first dialogue

Since the Netherlands signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, every five years, various Dutch organizations contributing to this cause are required to report their progress to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Different ministries and children’s rights organizations, such as UNICEF Netherlands and Kinderpostzegels (charity stamps sold in the Netherlands to support children’s rights), are all working to improve children’s rights. However, it’s not always clear how all their efforts are explicitly contributing to this goal. This is where the Children’s Rights Dialogue – a yearly gathering of all stakeholders to discuss progress, the development of initiatives, and strengthen collaboration – comes in.

Connecting a varied stakeholder landscape

While the dialogue’s objective was clear, it was unclear which shape the gathering should take to provide maximum value to all involved parties and promote a sense of urgency among them. We constructed a program that serves everyone’s role.
We invited a varied group of stakeholders to participate in the dialogue, including representatives from various ministries, children’s rights organizations, and a youth panel. During interactive discussions at tables featuring different themes – and with the “Newspaper of the Future” featuring as a valuable communication tool – participants discussed what would give them a sense of pride during the next consultation with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and which joint steps needed to be taken. Afterwards, children and young people served as metaphorical guides, leading policymakers and children’s rights organizations on a “participation path” to emphasize how their involvement directly influences policymaking.

Focus on content

We successfully organized the first dialogue in April 2023. The creative ideas and attention given to the at-times-conflicting interests of the various parties involved ensured that policymakers, children’s rights organizations, and young people felt more intimately connected. Thanks to our strong substantive affinity with the program’s themes, we were able to construct a program in service of its content, stimulating valuable discussions. We are incredibly proud to have been invited to organize the next three editions.

“To continue improving children’s rights in the Netherlands, we must collaborate closely with all stakeholders and understand each other’s perspectives. Doing so requires fostering connection through substantive dialogue. Frisse Blikken initiated this process excellently.”