The Motivation Game

Abstract

The Motivation Game, a simulation exercise designed to illustrate the effects of incentives on individual and group behavior, is described in this article. The game establishes two conditions typical of incentive schemes commonly used in business- and/or task-oriented small groups to stimulate behavior: Reward those who display potential through their performance, and reward those presumably possessing potential, even though the potential is not displayed. Examination of game-generated data suggests that the schemes affect both individual and group behavior.