Comments on: http://leapcomp.com/2009/10/1049.html Mon, 21 May 2012 17:18:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Paul Hebert http://leapcomp.com/2009/10/1049.html#comment-20446 Paul Hebert Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:59:33 +0000 http://leapcomp.com/2009/10/1049.html#comment-20446 You're missing the correct answer in your poll. It is best to reward the team equally AND provide individual awards (non-cash is my recommendation depending on the goal and context of the work). All of the above options create ill-will within the team. The biggest problem with team-based rewards is the free-rider problem where one (or more) team members will ride on the effort of the others - and the others will pick up the slack in order to ensure they get the reward. Combining team and individual awards helps minimize that problem. You’re missing the correct answer in your poll. It is best to reward the team equally AND provide individual awards (non-cash is my recommendation depending on the goal and context of the work).

All of the above options create ill-will within the team.

The biggest problem with team-based rewards is the free-rider problem where one (or more) team members will ride on the effort of the others - and the others will pick up the slack in order to ensure they get the reward. Combining team and individual awards helps minimize that problem.

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