Blog #4: "TED Talks" Listen & Respond
The summaries of ted 8 (Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation)
Karl Duncker used an experiment that called the candle problem to try to find the best motivation in the business and some other area in 1945. The candle problem experiment is that using a candle, some thumbtacks, and some matches to attach the candle to the wall, and the wax doesn't drip onto the table. The people were divided into two groups. He told to the first group he just wanted to know the average time of solution progress. Furthermore, he told to the second group he would give 20 dollars to the first one and 5 dollars to the top 25% people. However, the second group was slower than the first group 3.5 minutes. In addition, Karl had done this experiment for many times, the results were same.
In conclusion, only when the people do the mechanical skill or bonuses work, the higher pay can show the better performance. However, when requiring the cognitive skills, a large reward led to poorer performance. Because the large reward narrows the people’s focus and possibility, the financial incentives can result a negative impact on overall performance.
Due to this result, the company’s managers need to rethink about their reward system. The tradition “carrot and sticks” (reward and punishment) management maybe is not the best solution. Nonetheless, some companies have tried a new way to encourage their staff, such as spending 20% of working time on anything the staff want, and they received some good effects.
Wow, good summary! That sounds fascinating. I really like the idea of 20% of the time to work on whatever people want. Do you think that would work with students somehow? Should teachers change the way we grade and give homework??
ReplyDeleteI think our Monday's working is a little similar with the idea of 20% of the time to work on whatever people want. Writing the blog day is more flexible and relaxed than other days.
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DeleteIt is very interesting that money cannot be a good motivation in some situations. I also think fixed high salary might have negative effect to person who has congnitive job because it makes one feel that one have to achieve the goal certainly. After reading your summary, I realized that it is important to give proper reward to motivate people who works in various jobs!
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