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I don't think the employees misinterpreted at all. I think they knew exactly what they were doing. I think instead, the manager simply failed to realize what

I don't think the employees misinterpreted at all. I think they knew exactly what they were doing. I think instead, the manager simply failed to realize what his actions would do. He gave them different incentives, and they reacted to them. Employees are there to work for the company, but they will not promote the company at their own expense. If your incentive plans incentivize the wrong things, you'll get the wrong things. 'Clever' incentive plans are rarely actually clever.

dpritchett 15y ago
It'd be really nice if people read Freakonomics before sitting down to design workplace incentives. I know it's not the most rigorous treatment of economics but it does a great job of hammering the point home with some memorable and accessible anecdotes.
- munin 15y ago
  do you think people that design "workplace incentives" can read? ;)