Question
Based on the week’s readings, write a brief persuasive essay describing how effective you think incentives are in shaping human behaviour, particularly in an organizational or business setting.
Sample paper
How effective incentives are in shaping human behaviour persuasive essay
Incentive is one of the measures used by human resource managers to influence workers’ behavior. Incentives refer to anything given to motivate or that tends to motivate people to greater effort or action. A good example is the rewards given to enhance individual or group productivity. Incentives are given to influence individuals to do what is required effectively with no need for supervision. Monetary reward is one of the most commonly used incentives in an organization. According to Sandel, the monetary incentive does influence people’s behavior positively. However, there reached there is a limitation to the extent to which monetary incentives can command individual behavior beyond which extra incentive has no effect or may even result in negative results. This shows that although monetary incentives can assist in enhancing performance, this cannot happen in all cases. Higher monetary rewards are said to result in higher performance in all cases in mechanical engagements but not in cognitive engagements1[1].
Things determine workers’ behaviors according to Herzberg
According to Herzberg, other things determine workers’ behaviors. These include the level of self-satisfaction. Individual engaged in cognitive activities appreciate getting good salaries that can cater to their needs. However, money is not everything to them. They also focus on other things that influence the growth and development of their skills. These individuals treasure achievement, responsibilities, nature of work, recognition for achievements made, and personal growth and advancement. Thus, other than money, an organization should create a work environment that is favorable for the work done. Organizations should define favorable policies that promote growth and job satisfaction. Developing good interpersonal relations, job security, good administration, and supervision, satisfying salaries, can play a great role in motivating workers other than tagging money at any activity that needs improvement[2]. This simply means that money is a viable motivation incentive; however, it has a limitation. To surpass this limitation, an organization should devise other human resource management measures that promote job satisfaction and personal growth.
References List
Herzberg, Frederick. “One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees?” Harvard Business Review 65, no. 5(1987): 109–120.
Sandel, Michael J. What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2012. (Chapter 2: Incentives)
[1] Michael J Sandel, What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2012. (Chapter 2: Incentives
[2] Frederick Herzberg, “One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees?” Harvard Business Review 65, no. 5(1987): 109–120.
