How do you address unconscious biases affecting decision-making in your gaming team?

1 Recognize Bias

Recognizing unconscious bias within your gaming team is the first step towards addressing it. Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their conscious awareness. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and these biases stem from one's tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing. In a gaming team, these can manifest in who gets assigned to high-profile projects or how character designs are approached. Encourage your team to participate in training or workshops to help them identify their own biases. This can lead to more equitable decision-making processes and a more inclusive game design.

2 Diverse Teams

Building a diverse team is a powerful way to counteract unconscious biases. Diversity in your team means having members from a mix of backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and experiences. This variety brings different perspectives to the table, which can challenge preconceived notions and prevent homogenous thinking. When your team is diverse, it's more likely that someone will spot bias in decision-making and call it out. Moreover, a diverse team can better represent the multicultural player base that most games have today, leading to designs and narratives that resonate with a wider audience.

3 Inclusive Culture

Fostering an inclusive culture within your gaming team is essential. An inclusive culture is one where all team members feel valued and empowered to contribute regardless of their background or identity. This environment encourages open dialogue and the sharing of different perspectives, which can reveal unconscious biases that might be influencing decisions. Promote inclusivity by establishing clear values and norms that prioritize respect and collaboration. Regularly check in with your team to ensure everyone feels heard and valued, and be proactive about making adjustments when necessary.

4 Decision Audits

Conducting decision audits can help identify unconscious biases in your gaming team's choices. A decision audit involves reviewing past decisions to assess whether bias played a role in the outcome. Look at who was involved in the decision-making process, whose opinions were prioritized, and what assumptions were made. This retrospective analysis can uncover patterns of bias that you can address moving forward. By regularly auditing your decisions, you ensure continuous improvement and a commitment to fairness in your team's operations.

5 Challenge Assumptions

Challenging assumptions is a crucial practice in mitigating unconscious bias within your gaming team. Assumptions often go unexamined but can have a significant impact on decision-making. Encourage your team to question the status quo and the 'that's how it's always been done' mentality. When faced with a decision, ask yourselves what assumptions are being made and whether they are based on facts or biased perceptions. This practice not only helps in identifying biases but also promotes critical thinking and creativity, leading to better game development outcomes.

6 Continuous Learning

Commit to continuous learning about unconscious bias and its impact on decision-making within your gaming team. The gaming industry is dynamic, with constantly evolving audiences and technologies, meaning that understanding biases also needs to evolve. Encourage your team to stay informed about the latest research on unconscious bias and diversity. Provide resources for ongoing education, such as articles, seminars, or even internal discussion groups. By making learning a continuous process, you create a team that is always growing and improving its approach to inclusive decision-making.