11.4 Employee motivation

Product development is an activity that depends primarily upon the use of one s brain. Whether this resource is being used to its fullest capacity is impossible to discern. Unlike other types of employment, a manager can not tell whether a worker is actually doing anything.

For instance, an assembly line worker can be monitored and his or her work output measured simply by observation. Engineering on the other hand is based upon creative thought or the problem-solving ability of the employee. A person who really hates his or her job will be less inclined to put forth a lot of effort in either one of these categories.

What s even worse is the fact that in many instances management never knows. When results are measured and a performance review is received, the employee will, in most instances, get a satisfactory rating unless his performance is truly pathetic.

In this section we ll take a look at a number of different factors that can be used in motivating people. These are based upon writings of psychologists who have studied human motivation and have written on the subject.

Before examining specific factors, it is assumed that the basics are first in place:

• The end goal is well defined and communicated to all team members;

• Management is capable of running the project (technically savvy);

• Team members understand that integrity is important technical issues are to be reported accurately;

• Incentives to succeed are in place for all team members.