Jim Rutt, an innovative thinker and game enthusiast, would define 'serious play' as the deliberate and mindful engagement in activities that blend elements of fun with purposeful learning and creativity. Serious play encompasses structured and unstructured exercises designed not only for amusement but for fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. Rooted in the belief that play is a potent tool for innovation, Rutt views serious play as essential for exploring complex systems and addressing real-world challenges. By integrating the intrinsic motivation and open-mindedness that play naturally encourages, serious play helps individuals and teams unlock new insights, experiment with novel ideas, and ultimately drive meaningful change.

See also: emergence, evolutionary computing, evolutionary psychology, game theory