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Management News is South-Western's service to provide summaries of the latest management news stories. Review the brief summaries and, for stories of interest, select the full summary. |
| MOTIVATION | |
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Starbucks and Travelocity are two companies that have made employee engagement the center of their philosophy to bring customer service to new levels. They remind us of how important front-line employees are to customer satisfaction and bottom-line success. (Updated May 2008) |
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Many managers find good employees and want to keep them in the same job forever. Yet, job rotation programs can help to foster innovation within an organization, reinvigorate a workforce, and help to attract and retain good workers. The toughest part can be convincing managers that these programs are good for everyone involved. (Updated May 2008) |
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Executives at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas credit their recognition programs for a drastic increase in revenue per employee. They also believe that the programs played a key role in a revenue increase from $714 million in 2003 to more than $1 billion in 2005. Some argue, however, that proving the correlation between recognition and performance can be a “fuzzy science.” (Updated January 2008) |
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When it comes to motivation, there is no “one size fits all” approach that works best for everyone. Employees have different needs and priorities that can dictate the types of rewards that they will find most motivating. A new study by Maritz, Inc. divides employees into six groups based on their greatest motivators. (Updated July 2007) |
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Two banking executives use slightly different approaches to help their analysts to set goals, stay motivated, and achieve their goals each year. Their approaches might differ, but both empower their employees to achieve their best performance through careful action planning and performance review. (Updated June 2007) |
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Nucor, a North Carolina steelmaker, has outperformed New Economy icons like Starbucks, Amazon.com, and eBay on the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index. The secret to its success lies in the fierce dedication of its 11,300 nonunion employees. The company cultivates a unique culture that motivates employees with empowerment, performance-based compensation, and the ability to innovate and take risks (Updated August 2006) |
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Employees expect to be recognized when they do good work, and studies show that both managers and employees agree that recognition is linked to performance on the job. Many leaders find it difficult to deliver praise, however, and need to develop ways to make the behavior more a part of their daily routines. (Updated April 2006) |
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Even star performers can become disengaged with their jobs. Managers should be aware of the signs to watch for to know when a valued performer is losing interest. Providing recognition, growth opportunities, and setting goals can help get this person back on track (Updated April 2006) |
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Schlumberger Ltd. struggled with how to motivate its professionals to work together and share their knowledge. It came up with an innovative system in which the various groups govern themselves and choose their own leaders. (Updated October 2005) |
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Since introducing the "Fish!" philosophy of having fun at work, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a 250-unit specialty coffee retailer, has experienced increased sales and employee and customer retention. (Updated October 2004) |
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Employee perks that range from cash to cars are helping companies retain workers. Some experts feel it's more important for employees' ideas to be taken seriously and to feel empowered to make decisions at work, but perks can make a difference. (Updated September 2004) |
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When employees become disengaged, productivity suffers. Managers need to work with employees to keep them engaged and motivated, or they will do more harm than good. (Updated July 2004) |
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While financial rewards are still the top incentive, companies are beginning to realize how important work/life balance issues have become to employees. More companies are offering work/life balance programs to their employees. (Updated May 2004) |
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Syncrude Ltd., an energy company in Canada, is an innovator in motivating its employees. The manager of operations uses awards, performance appraisals, and personal interaction to let employees know they are valued. (Updated May 2004) |
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Many view a compliment as something that is only used for extraordinary situations. Others see it as false flattery. However, praise tends to stick with the recipient long after big awards and fat checks are gone. (Updated March 2004) |
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AFLAC was named one of Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2003 for the fifth consecutive year. One reason is that this company has a strong employee recognition program that takes place throughout the year, not just on an annual basis. (Updated June 2003) |
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Turnover rates in the hotel industry average 40%, but Four Seasons has found ways to motivate its employees and lower turnover, making it one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. (Updated March 2003) |
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Recognizing worker achievements with awards and public appreciation can improve morale and lower turnover, but not everyone agrees on its effectiveness. In this article, three companies describe their employee recognition programs and the benefits to both the employee and the company. (Updated December 2002) |
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This article focuses on ways to motivate staff. The premise is that the ultimate responsibility lies with each of us to motivate ourselves, but a manager can do things to create an environment in which this can happen. (Updated December 2002) |
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Businesses are not always effective in motivating their employees. This article suggests ways to motivate without breaking the bank. (Updated October 2002) |
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When employees aren't happy in their jobs, sometimes the problem is the workplace environment and attitudes. Companies need to encourage employee participation and communication to inspire employees to do their best work. (Updated October 2002) |
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There are many ways to motivate an employee. This employer chooses a route less traveled. (Updated August 2002) |
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