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View Full Version : Incentives don't work; autonomy, mastery, and purpose do.


Invincible Summer
24th June 2010, 10:27
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

This is very interesting and counters the typical argument that work cannot be done without monetary incentives; in fact, these incentives can actually make work less efficient.
ÑóẊîöʼn
24th June 2010, 10:40
I would have thought it obvious; if the motivation for doing the work is some kind of reward or payback, rather than the work being worth doing for it's own sake, then people will put in the minimum effort necessary to get the reward, rather than doing their best at the work.
pdcrofts
24th June 2010, 20:17
Each day a group of schoolchildren walk past the house of an old man and throw small stones at his window. Every day he comes out and tells them to stop throwing stones, but they do not.
One day the old man comes out and says he will give the children 50p if they throw stones at his house. Every day that week they do so and the old man gives each child 50p each day.
The next week the children arrive and start throwing stones as usual. The man comes out and gives them 25p each. The children complain loudly and refuse to throw any more stones, saying they are being ripped off.
Invincible Summer
24th June 2010, 20:58
I would have thought it obvious; if the motivation for doing the work is some kind of reward or payback, rather than the work being worth doing for it's own sake, then people will put in the minimum effort necessary to get the reward, rather than doing their best at the work.

Yes, but at least we have some research to back our assertions up, and from the mouths of self-proclaimed free market supporters.


Each day a group of schoolchildren walk past the house of an old man and throw small stones at his window. Every day he comes out and tells them to stop throwing stones, but they do not.
One day the old man comes out and says he will give the children 50p if they throw stones at his house. Every day that week they do so and the old man gives each child 50p each day.
The next week the children arrive and start throwing stones as usual. The man comes out and gives them 25p each. The children complain loudly and refuse to throw any more stones, saying they are being ripped off.

:lol: I like it