ERIC Number: ED283963
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-Jun
Pages: 112
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Feedback, Goal Setting, and Incentives Effects on Organizational Productivity.
Pritchard, Robert D.; And Others
This technical paper is one of three produced by a large-scale effort aimed at implementing a new approach to measuring productivity, and using that approach to assess the impact of feedback, goal setting, and incentives on productivity. The productivity measurement system was developed for five units in the maintenance and supply areas at an Air Force base. The productivity measures derived from the system were used as the basis for formal feedback reports given to the units monthly for five months. After this, goal setting was added to the feedback for five months. Incumbents and supervisors of the five units jointly set goals each month. Finally, incentives were added to the feedback and goal setting. The results showed the approach to be a very effective method of productivity measurement and enhancement. Using the feedback produced by the system resulted in an average gain in productivity of 50 percent over baseline across the five units. When goal setting was added, the mean increase was 75 percent over baseline. When incentives were added to that, the mean increase was 76 percent over baseline. The positive effects lasted over time and continued after the departure of the research team. It was concluded that feedback increased productivity substantially, goal setting increased productivity further, and incentives did not add anything to this. The productivity measurement system and resulting feedback and goal setting systems show great promise for future Air Force use. (KC)
Descriptors: Adults, Efficiency, Evaluation Criteria, Feedback, Goal Orientation, Incentives, Management by Objectives, Management Systems, Military Personnel, Military Training, Motivation, Motivation Techniques, Organizational Effectiveness, Organizational Objectives, Performance, Personnel Evaluation, Positive Reinforcement, Productivity, Program Effectiveness, Success
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Air Force Human Resources Lab., Brooks AFB, TX. Manpower and Personnel Div.
Authoring Institution: Houston Univ., TX. Dept. of Psychology.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A