In: Operations Management
Would you rather be given the opportunity to receive incentives based on individual performance or group performance? Please explain your answer. Does it depend on the situation? Why or why not?
I believe I am a sincere and hardworking individual. So if I am given a task to perform, I shall try my level best to complete the same. However, there are times when the task cannot be managed single-handedly. It is then that a group is required to come together by sharing resources, both, of knowledge and physical, to get the task done. Not all the group members could be at the same level in terms of their contribution in the group. Further, the role of some group member may be relatively more crucial than that of the other but yet each of their profile shall be necessary to perform to achieve the overall group targets. For example, in a baseball team, we may have substitutes to back-up the main players on the field, in case of any foul, injury, etc. Hence, role of all the members in the group could be significant.
So depending upon the situation, if I have solely taken the responsibility of achieving the targets, then I shall prefer not to join in a group and share my personal success or credit with them and in that case, I shall prefer to be given the opportunity to receive incentives on the basis of my individual performance. However, in the cases, where I feel, I am not better off alone and may need the contribution of group as well, then in such a case, I shall prefer to go for group incentives.