> From: Julie Beedon <julie@vistabee.win-uk.net>
> I don't want to go into sematics about this quesiton of rewards but I
> wondered in reading Rol's note if the term 'reward' system was perhaps
> inappropriate for what he is describing.
> ....
> I was wondering if this is because there is an underlying principle which
> underpins any rewards system - namely that people need extrinsic
> motivators.
>
> So rewards systems could be said to = systems of extrinsic motivation
>
> Now I think what Rol is describing is something totally different and it
> seems to be operating of the principles of intrinsic motivation. In
> particular much of what he mentions would work at removing the barriers to
> intrinsic motivation and releasing the full force of people's desire to
> contribute their full potential and enjoy their work and the relationships
> they have with people around them....
>
> It strikes me that this is not a 'reward' system (even informal) - I am
> not sure I have another name ..... I say so mainly because there is no
> transaction - ie you do good work and you will get these things ..... but
> you do good work because it is 'worth doing' and you can do it ...... not
> because you gain these informal rewards...
>
> It could go without a name but people would want to replace their formal
> reward system *with* something so perhaps we could call it a...
>
Julie,
How about "meaning system"? I'm thinking of this in the context of
motivators and (I think the term used was) "satisfiers". I think
extrinsic motivators are important (we all need some income to live) and
probably such reward systems deal well with satisfiers. To whatever
extent the satisfiers can be taken as given, then people can focus on
internal motivators and the meaning of work.
Regards,
Jeff
--Jeff Brooks <BrooksJeff@AOL.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>