An interesting application of the findings from behavioural economics.
According to the article in the "Economist", Chinese managers in an electronics factory responded more positively (eagerly) to the bonus scheme when they were entitled to a bonus but would be deprived if they had failed to achieve the target, than when they were offered the same amount if they had achieved the same target. The results were consistent over the time.
People react so differently to different "wordings" of the same condition. I should have learned this much earlier ...
http://tinyurl.com/yd9xlyk
Interesting article. I'm not an economist, but I'm not a fan of either carrots or sticks. This book really changed the way that I look at behaviorism.
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/asMH8o
cheers,
Morgan
Hello Morgan,
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for suggesting a book by Alfie Kohn. For me, this is the first time to hear this name. Is he a thinker about education like Dewey? Amazon.jp notifies the book is available only as a second hand for Y9,500- ($100-) or more. A little too steep ... Perhaps I should dig in the library.
Best,
Masaaki
Yes,
ReplyDeleteHe explores how to motivate students, employees, and children in the realms of education, business, and parenting. He argues against behaviorist approaches to motivation for the basic reason that although such methods work in the short term, in the long term they actually undermine motivation and relationships. You might find the English version of his book a bit cheaper:
http://bit.ly/cEMpwB
Morgan
Thanks a lot again.
ReplyDeleteSounds reasonable. I have ordered a copy from amazon.jp; it is indeed significantly cheaper.
Masaaki