Perspectives

A series of thought pieces on topics relevant to employee and customer motivation.

Global Incentive Program Considerations Jerry Klein, Maritz, Inc. Global reward fulfillment is, to be sure, a critical aspect of global program operation, and it needs to be executed flawlessly. However, companies often mistake the reward for the program.  Read the full Perspective. November 2008

Global Program Considerations Jennifer Rosenzweig, Carlson Marketing Growth is a critical key to business success, as an organization that is standing still in one which wont survive in the long term.  Read the full Perspective. October 2008

Incentive and Recognition Program Design  The “C” View of Incentive Program ROI Jim Dittman | President | Dittman Incentive Marketing You know the six basic steps of program construction: Define objective(s) quantitatively; convert to rules that drive measurable behaviors to the objective(s); communicate and promote with frequency and flair; adjust qualifications to changing competitive landscape; do final impact and ROI/ROO analyses; and deliver the dream as promised to ensure success of future programs.   Read the full Perspective. July 2010 Please Skip the Carrots Jim Dittman | President | Dittman Incentive Marketing The carrot-and-stick idiom puts a farmer on the back of a donkey with a carrot placed forward of the animal and intended to be the incentive for the donkey to walk. If it doesn’t do the job, the stick works at the other end. To make anything in this scene analogous to the performance improvement profession is to insult the practitioners and participants alike.  Read the full Perspective. March 2010 Beyond Fulfillment – Why Do Some Incentive Programs Not Work? Larry Bush, Gazelle Solutions/Meridian   Incentive program sponsors typically focus on the awards and fulfillment aspects of a program. It is the exciting part of the program, seeing what is available for redemption.  The award is the payoff for the achievement.  It’s the reward for the accomplishment.  But great awards and flawless fulfillment do not guarantee a “successful” program.  Incentive programs are far more complex than just fulfilling awards.  If it were that simple, all incentive programs would work but they don’t.  So why don’t they? Read the full Perspective. September 2008

10 Reasons Why Incentive Programs Can Fail Ryan Bearbower, EGR International, Inc. Incentive Program Design is not taught in schools…Consequently, many planners charged with developing an incentive program use their instincts or follow what colleagues or some other division of the company has done in the past – a simplistic and inefficient solution. Thankfully, there exists a growing body of knowledge related to motivation and incentive programs that can provide the foundation for developing a successful program.  Here’s what that knowledge tells us can go wrong with an incentive program, based on best practices of successful program design and industry research. Read the full Perspective.  September 2008

The Business Case for Incentive Programs Rick Blabolil, Marketing Innovators Fundamentally, every corporate goal can be categorized under the objectives of making money, saving money or making the company (or an entity) “look good.” Incentive programs are a tool designed to support corporate initiatives by positively affecting the behaviors of people whose activities will positively affect the financial performance of the company. Read the full Perspective. July 2008

Using Rewards and Recognition To Meet Your Goals  Louise Anderson, Anderson Performance Improvement Did you know, three in ten workers are thinking about leaving their jobs? Nearly half expect to be working for a different company three years from now. So how can you stall out this trend in your company? The answer involves the use of well-designed reward and recognition programs. Read the full Perspective.  July 2008

Strategies and Tactics for the New Economy   Collective Belt Tightening Across the Corporate Midsection? Think Again. Mike Ryan, MADISON Performance Group An economic slowdown should prompt a collective belt tightening across the corporate midsection, right? Think again. Smart businesses approach forecasted soft patches as an opportunity to get aggressive. The objective; swoop in and seize market share, strengthen customer equity and ignite employee innovation.  Read the full Perspective. June 2008

Thank God for the Recession James Dittman, Dittman Incentive Marketing We are in a recession, and we’ll all be the better for it. We’re supposed to be in the business of finding solutions…the business of motivating sales people to sell, customers to buy, and people to work harder, smarter, more productively. It’s up to us to look around and find ways to deal with the tougher times, reasons to celebrate our business spirit…to electrify ourselves…and arm ourselves and our people to deal with the days ahead. Read the full Perspective. June 2008

Michelle M. Smith, OC Tanner   A wealth of different research studies has discovered a very strong correlation between the level of employee satisfaction in an organization and the level of customer satisfaction and loyalty to that organization.  Read more... April 2009

Talent Acquisition The Other Audience: Employees Jim Dittman | President | Dittman Incentive Marketing Communication is the heart that pumps blood through your customer acquisition and engagement strategies. However, with various studies showing that the level of engaged employees in an organization tops out at about 30%, is it any wonder that your marketing efforts to engage customers can short circuit, spark, and burn?  The consistent delivery of your brand promise rests squarely in the hands of your employees, and their success in delivering the brand promise is directly linked to their level of engagement. Read the full perspective. December 2009 How to Increase Your Value to the CSO Mike Ryan, Madison Performance Group   While many factors affect results, the ongoing actions and attitudes of your sales team may play the biggest role. Read more... March 2009

Interview with Align, Lead , Inspire (an Australian based premium member ship site targeting global  managers in medium to large size organizations). Mike Ryan, Madison Performance Group   Listen to this interview with Mike where he discusses the impact of reward and recognition programs and discover what some of the best-in-class companies are doing. Listen here. March 2009

Millenials and Recognition: How Gen X and Millennials are Shaping Incentive and Retention Strategies Janet North, MotivAction Worldwide   While gender gaps slowly close, ethnic and generational diversity is on the rise with a record four generations coexisting in business. Theses changing dynamics have organizational leadership examining and adjusting their recognition, incentive, development and human capital practices in order to attract and engage skilled, high-potential employees now and into the future. Read the full Perspective. March 2009

Accelerate Recognition to Accelerate Profits Louise Anderson, Anderson Performance Improvement Want measurable returns in profitability and retention? Recognize everyone - not just star performers - for doing the right things right. Read the full Perspective. November 2008