Do knowledge workers in organizations need the carrot, the stick, or even a very different motivational approach leading to first class work performance?! Researchers from the Institute of Entrepreneurship contribute to the solution of that important question of knowledge worker motivation with their presentations at the Knowledge in Organizations Conference in Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland between May 30th and Juni 3rd, and the subsequent academic meeting at the International Conference on Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities in Boston, Massachusetts (June 3rd to 6th).
Do knowledge workers in organizations need the carrot, the stick, or even a very different motivational approach leading to first class work performance?! Researchers from the Institute of Entrepreneurship contribute to the solution of that important question of knowledge worker motivation with their presentations at the Knowledge in Organizations Conference in Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland between May 30th and Juni 3rd, and the subsequent academic meeting at the International Conference on Organizational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities in Boston, Massachusetts (June 3rd to 6th). Professor Stefan Güldenberg, Professor Antoinette Weibel und Dipl.-Psych. Ingo Bildstein present a conceptual contingency view on knowledge worker motivation, which differs strongly from the existing one-size-fits-all-approach to knowledge work motivation. Doing so, the authors consider both psychological and economical considerations - leading to recommended action concerning the ideal combination of intrinsic and extrensic incentives - depending on the kind of organization and the used mode of knowledge creation. The practical relevance for successful business management is shown by four company cases, including Google and Red Bull. Professor Gueldenberg will also present yet another paper at the OLKC 2010 in Boston together with Anja Schulze, PhD from the Swiss Dederal Institute of Technology Zurich titled "How Does Management Thinking Influence Organizational Learning".