Question: GROUP EXERCISE: Rewards

Objectives: 1. To tap the class's collective knowledge of organizational rewards.

2. To appreciate the vast array of potential rewards.

3. To contrast individual and group perceptions of rewards.

4. To practice your group creativity skills.

Introduction: Rewards are a centerpiece of organizational life. Both extrinsic and intrinsic rewards motivate us to join and continue contributing to organized effort. But not all rewards have the same impact on work motivation. Individuals have their own personal preferences for rewards. The best way to discover people's reward preferences is to ask them, both individually and collectively. This group

brainstorming and class discussion exercise requires about 20 to 30 minutes. Instructions Your instructor will divide your class randomly into teams of five to eight people. Each team will go through the following four-step process:

1. Each team will have a six-minute brainstorming session, with one person acting as recorder. The objective of this brainstorming session is to list as many different organizational rewards as the group can think of. Your team might find it helpful to think of rewards by category (such as rewards from the work itself, rewards you can spend, rewards you can eat and drink, rewards you can feel, rewards you can wear, rewards you can share, rewards you cannot see, etc.). Remember, good brainstorming calls for withholding judgments about whether ideas are good or not. Quantity is wanted. Building upon other people's ideas also is encouraged.

2. Next, each individual will take four minutes to write down, in decreasing order of importance, 10 rewards he or she wants from the job. Note: These are your personal preferences, your "top 10" rewards that will motivate you to do your best.

3. Each team will then take five minutes to generate a list of "today's 10 most powerful rewards." List them in decreasing order of their power to motivate job performance. Voting may be necessary.

4. A general class discussion of the questions listed below will conclude the exercise.

Questions for Discussion

1. How did your personal top 10 list compare with your group's top 10 list? If there is a serious mismatch, how would it affect your motivation? (To promote discussion, the instructor may have several volunteers read their personal top 10 lists to the class.)

2. Which team had the most productive brainstorming session? (The instructor may request each team to read its brainstormed list of potential rewards and top 10 list to the class.)

3. Were you surprised to hear certain rewards getting so much attention? Why?

4. How can managers improve the incentive effect of the rewards most frequently mentioned in class?

5. What is the likely future of organizational reward plans? Which of today's compensation trends will probably thrive, and which are probably passing fads?