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  • 1.  Introductory readings on motivation

    Posted 10-30-2009 10:00

    Colleagues:

     

    Next week I'm speaking to a group of university administrators on motivation and incentives, particularly in the context of academic governance. I'd like to assign a brief, introductory reading or two summarizing the research literature on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the effects of rewards and punishment, the use of motivation schemes in organizations, and the like.

     

    In class, I usually motivate these issues (pun intended) by assigning something like Alfie Kohn's "Why Incentive Plans Cannot Work" from HBR (Sept-Oct 1993), the set of responses that were published in the next issue ("Rethinking Rewards," Nov-Dec 1993), and the introductory chapter of a typical managerial economics textbook or Brickley et al.'s "Economics of Organizational Architecture" (JACF, 1995). This "dueling banjos" approach may be too subtle for this audience, however (remember that these are university administrators, so [insert your own joke here]). Can anyone suggest short, accessible overviews of these issues?

     

    Thanks,

    Peter Klein



  • 2.  Introductory readings on motivation

    Posted 10-30-2009 10:19

    Peter,

    Of course the classic on incentives is:

    "On the Folly of Rewarding A, While Hoping for B", Steven Kerr, The Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 18, No. 4 (Dec., 1975), pp. 769-783

    Steve Tallman

     

    Stephen Tallman

    E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professor of Business

    Robins School of Business

    28 Westhampton Way

    University of Richmond

    Richmond, VA 23173

    804/287-6589

    stallman@richmond.edu

    From: Business Policy and Strategy List [mailto:BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Klein, Peter G.
    Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:00 AM
    To: BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Introductory readings on motivation

     

    Colleagues:

     

    Next week I'm speaking to a group of university administrators on motivation and incentives, particularly in the context of academic governance. I'd like to assign a brief, introductory reading or two summarizing the research literature on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the effects of rewards and punishment, the use of motivation schemes in organizations, and the like.

     

    In class, I usually motivate these issues (pun intended) by assigning something like Alfie Kohn's "Why Incentive Plans Cannot Work" from HBR (Sept-Oct 1993), the set of responses that were published in the next issue ("Rethinking Rewards," Nov-Dec 1993), and the introductory chapter of a typical managerial economics textbook or Brickley et al.'s "Economics of Organizational Architecture" (JACF, 1995). This "dueling banjos" approach may be too subtle for this audience, however (remember that these are university administrators, so [insert your own joke here]). Can anyone suggest short, accessible overviews of these issues?

     

    Thanks,

    Peter Klein



  • 3.  Introductory readings on motivation

    Posted 10-30-2009 10:46
    There is that AOM executive article that has been reprinted with a title something along the lines of "The folly of rewarding A while expecting B". Perhaps not exactly what you are looking for but makes the point of the unintentional effects of reward systems.

    Carolyn

    Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:59:51 -0500
    From: PKlein@MISSOURI.EDU
    Subject: [BPS-NET] Introductory readings on motivation
    To: BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU

    Colleagues:

     

    Next week I'm speaking to a group of university administrators on motivation and incentives, particularly in the context of academic governance. I'd like to assign a brief, introductory reading or two summarizing the research literature on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the effects of rewards and punishment, the use of motivation schemes in organizations, and the like.

     

    In class, I usually motivate these issues (pun intended) by assigning something like Alfie Kohn's "Why Incentive Plans Cannot Work" from HBR (Sept-Oct 1993), the set of responses that were published in the next issue ("Rethinking Rewards," Nov-Dec 1993), and the introductory chapter of a typical managerial economics textbook or Brickley et al.'s "Economics of Organizational Architecture" (JACF, 1995). This "dueling banjos" approach may be too subtle for this audience, however (remember that these are university administrators, so [insert your own joke here]). Can anyone suggest short, accessible overviews of these issues?

     

    Thanks,

    Peter Klein


    Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7.


  • 4.  Introductory readings on motivation

    Posted 10-30-2009 10:49
    Actually it might be in the Harvard Business Review. I don't have time to look it up at the moment.

    Carolyn

    From: carolynb3@live.com
    To: bps-net@aomlists.pace.edu
    Subject: RE: [BPS-NET] Introductory readings on motivation
    Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:46:18 -0600

    There is that AOM executive article that has been reprinted with a title something along the lines of "The folly of rewarding A while expecting B". Perhaps not exactly what you are looking for but makes the point of the unintentional effects of reward systems.

    Carolyn

    Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:59:51 -0500
    From: PKlein@MISSOURI.EDU
    Subject: [BPS-NET] Introductory readings on motivation
    To: BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU

    Colleagues:

     

    Next week I'm speaking to a group of university administrators on motivation and incentives, particularly in the context of academic governance. I'd like to assign a brief, introductory reading or two summarizing the research literature on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the effects of rewards and punishment, the use of motivation schemes in organizations, and the like.

     

    In class, I usually motivate these issues (pun intended) by assigning something like Alfie Kohn's "Why Incentive Plans Cannot Work" from HBR (Sept-Oct 1993), the set of responses that were published in the next issue ("Rethinking Rewards," Nov-Dec 1993), and the introductory chapter of a typical managerial economics textbook or Brickley et al.'s "Economics of Organizational Architecture" (JACF, 1995). This "dueling banjos" approach may be too subtle for this audience, however (remember that these are university administrators, so [insert your own joke here]). Can anyone suggest short, accessible overviews of these issues?

     

    Thanks,

    Peter Klein


    Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7.

    Windows 7: I wanted more reliable, now it's more reliable. Wow!


  • 5.  Introductory readings on motivation

    Posted 10-30-2009 11:17
    Peter, I approach this a little differently--I use Mintzberg's discussion of the "professional bureaucracy" from Structure in 5's as the core material regarding how university (and hospital) administrators can better understand faculty motivation and behavior. Many administrators have very little understanding that our first loyalties are with our "clients" (research colleagues and students) and our profession--not the organization. As Mintzberg notes, the primary role of administrators should be to support faculty and allow us to better serve our constituents. Not always the most popular message to the powers that be, but I like it!
     
    This article is the final in a series a few of us collaborated on for structure of academic medicine and specifically radiology departments, if you are interested.
     
    Willing, S.J., Gunderman, R.B., Cochran, P.L, & Saxton, T. 2004. The polity of academic medicine: A critical analysis of autocratic governance. The Journal of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">American</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on"> College</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Radiology, 1: 972-980. 

     

    Todd Saxton

    Indiana Venture Faculty Fellow

    Associate Professor, Strategy and Entrepreneurship

    IU Kelley School of Business

    tsaxton@iu.edu

    317.274.3349

    From: Business Policy and Strategy List [BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Klein, Peter G. [PKlein@MISSOURI.EDU]
    Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 8:59 AM
    To: BPS-NET@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Introductory readings on motivation

    Colleagues:

     

    Next week I'm speaking to a group of university administrators on motivation and incentives, particularly in the context of academic governance. I'd like to assign a brief, introductory reading or two summarizing the research literature on intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the effects of rewards and punishment, the use of motivation schemes in organizations, and the like.

     

    In class, I usually motivate these issues (pun intended) by assigning something like Alfie Kohn's "Why Incentive Plans Cannot Work" from HBR (Sept-Oct 1993), the set of responses that were published in the next issue ("Rethinking Rewards," Nov-Dec 1993), and the introductory chapter of a typical managerial economics textbook or Brickley et al.'s "Economics of Organizational Architecture" (JACF, 1995). This "dueling banjos" approach may be too subtle for this audience, however (remember that these are university administrators, so [insert your own joke here]). Can anyone suggest short, accessible overviews of these issues?

     

    Thanks,

    Peter Klein