Dan Pink on Motivation

Abstract

Dan Pink argues against the classical school of extrinsic motivation which is based on earning rewards and avoiding punishment and is used in most business operating systems. According to Pink classical reward systems fail with increasing task complexity and can have a negative impact on performance. It is therefore necessary for businesses to acknowledge these findings and move towards a system based on intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation occurs when the motivation to perform a behavior or engage in an activity is based on an outcome which can be either positive or negative. Pink uses the analogy of “carrots and sticks”, implicating that good performance will be rewarded, while low performance will be punished. Even though this external attempt to motivation might work for simple, routine tasks, the findings presented by Pink show that with increasing task complexity, this form of motivation yields decreased performance. Intrinsic motivation on the other hand arises from within and involves performing a behavior or engaging in an activity for the sake of itself. A person might simply enjoy a certain activity or see it as an opportunity to explore, learn, and actualize potentials. There is a mismatch between what science knows and what businesses continue to do. Business operating systems are still mainly build around extrinsic motivators such as promotions, bonuses, reprimands, layoffs, etc. In order to properly address 21st century challenges a new approach based on intrinsic motivation will yield higher performance. According to Pink an updated business operating system revolves around Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose. This approach acknowledges recent trends like outsourcing and automation and the subsequent changes in the nature of our jobs, which are becoming more complex and increasingly demand cognitive skills. In the context of project management managers have to be aware of the underlying motivations that drive people. Human capital is very important resource in projects, and has to be managed effectively to increase performance and achieve better results. The last part of the article will therefore focus on how Pinks suggestions can be utilized in the process of developing and managing a project team effectively.

Extrinsic Motivation

Extrinsic motivation exists, whenever an activity is performed or a behavior adopted in order to obtain some separable outcome. According to Ryan and Deci there are however different kinds of extrinsic motivation that differ by the degree of their autonomy. Therefore, motivation can range from amotivation or unwillingness, to passive compliance, to active personal commitment. With increasing autonomy, the perceived locus of causality shifts from impersonal, to external, to internal.

Amotivation describes the sere lack of motivation. The activity is not valued and no positive outcomes are expected. At this point an individual is not even motivated by extrinsic motivators. The least autonomous form of extrinsic motivation is external regulation. Activities are performed to satisfy an external demand or obtain an externally imposed reward. This form of extrinsic motivation is the most commonly associated form and was also recognized by operant theorists like B.F. Skinner. In modern business operating systems rewards can take the form of bonuses, variable salaries, pay raises, etc. Another form of extrinsic motivation is introjected regulation. According to Ryan and Deci, under this form of motivation individuals still feel pressured by immaterial factors and self-esteem. They engage in activities in order to avoid guilt and public shaming or to attain ego-enhancement or pride. Even if there is no material or monetary reward, the source of the behavior is still external. The perceived pressure to perform in a working environment can lead to severe health problems and burn out. A more internal form of extrinsic behavior is identification, where the individual has identified with the importance of the activity or behavior. It has been accepted as necessary. The most autonomous form of extrinsic motivation is integrated regulation which occurs when an individual has fully assimilated the regulations. The reasons for an action are not only accepted but also absorbed and brought into congruence with other personal values and needs. Integrated regulation shares aspects with intrinsic motivation but is still externally induced.

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is defined as performing an activity or adopting a behavior for its inherent satisfaction rather than for a separable outcome. The behavior arises from the inside and the reward lies in the activity itself. This opposes operant theory, which states that all behaviors are motivated by rewards. This special form of motivation roots back to a natural drive of learning and exploring and can be observed from birth onwards in human development.

Research in intrinsic motivation emphasizes conditions that sustain and facilitate this kind of motivation rather than diminish it. Tangible rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation, shifting people from a possibly existing internal to a more external perceived locus of causality (Deci and Ryan). The same goes for less tangible rewards perceived self-esteem, threats, deadlines, directives and competitive pressure. According to Deci and Ryan’s Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET) external interpersonal events and structures like rewards, communication and feedback can enhance intrinsic motivation if they are directed towards an individual’s feeling of competence. CET further specifies, that this feeling of competence should be accompanied by a sense of autonomy. Pink also partly centers his new approach around autonomy and competence, which he calls mastery.

Findings

According to Pink carrots and sticks don’t work. The focus on extrinsic motivators can even be severely harmful. The seven flaws are the following. (Pink 2)

Carrots and sticks can:

• Extinguish intrinsic motivation

• Diminish performance

• Crush creativity

• Crowd out good behavior

• Encourage cheating, shortcuts and unethical behavior

• Become addictive

• Foster short-term thinking

There are however some occasions where extrinsic motivators can increase performance. Rewards by their very nature narrow our focus. In order to get the promoted reward, a certain task has to be accomplished faster or more productive. This approach is easy in routine situations with a clear set of rules. In other words, when the task is well defined and no cognitive skills are required. (Pink 2a) Even though projects involve less of these kinds of tasks, they still occur and have to be dealt with. Managers have to can deal with them by openly acknowledging that the task is boring, still offer a rational why the task is still necessary and allow team members to complete the task in their own way. (Pink 2a) However, as tasks become more complex and demand more cognitive skills, rewards fail to improve performance. In situations that require looking outside the box, a narrow focus is not helpful. Therefore, in order to avoid the seven flaws, extrinsic motivators should be reduced and replaced with deeper elements of motivation which are discussed in the New Approach. Figure 1 provides an overview on how the decision process can be structured.

The new approach

Pinks approach is based on the assumption that we are intrinsically motivated to do things when we think they matter, they are interesting, or we simply like them. In order to generate an environment which nurtures this inner drive, Pink centers his approach around three factors, which are autonomy, mastery and purpose. Autonomy is the urge to direct our own lifes. Mastery is the desire to get better at something that personally matters to us. Purpose is the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves. (PINK) In order to achieve intrinsical motivation and a project manager has to be aware of these factors and create an environment, that reacts to these needs.

Project Human Resource Management

We have seen how human capital is becoming one of the most important resources in todays work environments. In order to increase performance and achieve better results, human resources have to be managed effectively. Project management practices are based on control and task oriented processes. This implies a rather external locus of control. Still there are several ways to foster intrinsic motivation within project teams. Transferring Pinks findings to project management, the goal should therefore be to foster intrinsic motivation by maximizing autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Within the PMBOK theses approaches in managing human resources fall within the chapter of project resource management, which concerns itself with the planning, estimating, acquiring and control of resources, as well as the development and management of the project team. (PMBOK) Especially the task of developing the team offers the opportunity to enhance intrinsic motivation. In the best case project managers already have chosen intrinsically motivated people during the acquisition phase. Concrete questions on how a possible candidate for the team is motivated to work on the project can be helpful during this phase and make a difference in the long-run.

Developing the team is concerned with the process of improving competencies, team member interaction, and the overall team environment to enhance project performance(PMBOK) It is important to correctly motivate team members. Good managers should offer valuable feedback, and support. With respect to what Pink calls mastery a manager should acknowledge individual competencies, encourage personal growth and put people in positions where they can grow. (Interview) Deci and Ryan have shown, that rewards can enhance intrinsic motivation, when they support when they are directed towards an individual’s feeling of competence rather than a concrete outcome. (DECI and Ryan) A project manager should therefore, motivate the team members during the project life-cycle rather than at the end. Intangible rewards rather than monetary rewards can also have a better effect. (PMBOK) Empowering the team members and encourage them to take ownership of the project is a direct way to address what Pink calls purpose. This involves the involvement all team members in project planning and decision-making processes. This will increase the team members feeling of identification with the project as he can actively influence decisions and shape the course of the project. (PMBOK) Managers should envision the bigger picture and scope of the project and help team members relate to it with their individual contribution. In order to achieve more autonomy, managers have to promote self-direction. This includes looking for ways to increase the amount of autonomy people have over their task, time, team, and technique. There are emerging concepts like hackathons and FedEx days that create opportunities for creativity despite the regular work and encourage creativity and independent working. (Interview) Flexible working hours also increase autonomy. A very concrete concept to maximize a team’s autonomy are self-organized teams, where a team works without centralized control. The project manager provides the team with the necessary environment and support, but except from that takes a passive role. The team members have to come up with concepts and solutions themselves rather than solving externally imposed tasks. (PMBOK)