Final answer:
To avoid undermining a reward system’s effectiveness, Kaitlin should not reward nonperformers. Fair and significant incentives should be extended to all staff, and ensure targets are controllable by teams or individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Kaitlin, the manager of the county library, is considering a reward and incentive system to promote good strategy execution, there are certain practices to avoid. One key aspect she should avoid is rewarding nonperformers, as this can undermine the effectiveness of the system.
The reward system must be objective and fair, the compensation for achieving performance targets should be significant, and the incentive plan should extend to all levels of staff, not just top management. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that performance targets are within the control of the teams or individuals.
Considering examples in various contexts, positive reinforcement has proven to be an effective tool. For instance, paying second-grade students to read books significantly increased reading comprehension, demonstrating that incentives can be powerful motivators. However, care must be taken not to undermine intrinsic motivation, as the expectancy of extrinsic rewards can sometimes lead to decreased intrinsic interest in tasks.