Summary
In this episode, Pejman and Jennifer interview Dr. Johanna Weststar, a professor in the Department of Management and Organization Studies at Western University and co-author of the book "Not all Fun and Games". We cover Johanna's role in the game industry, her journey and interest in studying labour in games, the impact of developer satisfaction surveys, and the lack of knowledge and transparency in the industry regarding unionization. We explore the culture and environment of the game industry, the erosion of industrial citizenship, and the power of dialogue and collective action in making things better. We also discuss the power of voice and unionization, the importance of retaining workers in the industry, and advice for students and supervisors.
Key takeaways from this episode:
The lack of knowledge and transparency in the game industry is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. The game industry has a culture and environment that can lead to inequity, overwork, and a lack of voice for workers.
Dialogue and collective action are important for making improvements in the industry.
Discussion on why game studios shouldn't fear unionization.
Students should enter the industry with their eyes open and consider whether its rhythms and structure align with their goals and values.
Developing voice and building collective consciousness are key for workers to make positive changes in their workplaces.
About Johanna
Johanna Weststar (she/her) is an Associate Professor of employment and labour relations in the DAN Department of Management and Organizational Studies at Western University in Canada. A key area of research is the video game industry where she studies workplace citizenship, representation and unionization, working conditions and the labour process, project management and occupational identity. She has published articles about the game industry in leading academic journals, is regularly consulted by the press and has been a speaker at key industry events such as GDC. Johanna leads the Develop Satisfaction Survey project for the International Game Developers Association, an important source of employment data on the industry. Her upcoming book Not All Fun and Games is a comprehensive account of citizenship at work in the game industry based on 15 years of data. A selection of papers and reports are available at Scholarship@Western, GameQoL and the IGDA website.
Keywords
game industry, diversity, equity, inclusion, unionization, game development, player communities, self-awareness, personal values, organizational goals, sustainability, inequality, retaining workers
Episode 3: Dr. Johanna Weststar on the Importance of Unionization