Each
employee’s performance is important in an organization. A way to motivate it is through the application of reinforcement theory which
is developed by B. F. Skinner. One of the most commonly used methods is
positive reinforcement in which one’s behavior is
strengthened or increased based on consequences. This paper aims to review the
impact of positive reinforcement on the performances of employees in
organizations. It can be applied by
utilizing extrinsic reward or intrinsic reward. Extrinsic rewards include salary, bonus and fringe benefit while
intrinsic rewards are praise, encouragement and empowerment. By applying
positive reinforcement in these factors, desired positive behaviors are
encouraged and negative behaviors are eliminated. Financial and non-financial
incentives have a positive relationship with the efficiency and effectiveness
of staffs.
References
[1]
B. F. Skinner, “Operant Behaviour,” American Psychologist, Vol. 18, No. 8, 1963, pp. 503-515. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0045185
[2]
A. Catania, “Positive Psychology and Positive Reinforcement,” American Psychologist, Vol. 56, No. 1, 2001, pp. 86-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.1.86
[3]
P. Gohari, A. Ahmadloo, M. B. Boroujeni and S. J. Hosseinipour, “The Relationship between Rewards and Employee Performance,” Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2013, pp. 543-570.
[4]
R. M. Zani, N. A. Rahim, S. Junos, S. Samanol and S. S. Ahmad, “Comparing the Impact of Financial and NonFinancial Rewards towards Organizational Motivation,” Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, Vol. 3, No. 4, 2011, pp. 328-334.
[5]
S. J. Linz and A. Semykina, “What Makes Workers happy? Anticipated Rewards and Job Satisfaction,” Industrial Relations, Vol. 51, No. 4, 2012, pp. 811-844. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-232X.2012.00702.x
[6]
M. S. Chien, J. S. Lawler and U. Jin-Feng, “Performance-Based Pay, Procedural Justice and Job Performance for R&D Professionals: Evidence from the Taiwanese High-Tech Sector,” International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol. 21, No. 12, 2010, pp. 2234-2248.
[7]
Y. Liu, “Reward Strategy in Chinese IT Industry,” International Journal of Business and Management, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010, pp. 119-127.
[8]
R. Hübner and J. Schlösser, “Monetary Reward Increases Attentional Effort in the Flanker Task,” Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, Vol. 17, No. 6, 2010, pp. 821-826.
[9]
J. Schuster, P. Weatherhead and P. Zingheim, “Pay for Performance Works: The United States Postal Service Presents a Powerful Business Case,” Worldat Work Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2006, pp. 24-31.
[10]
M. N. Koffarnus, A. DeFulio, S. O. Sigurdsson and K. Silverman, “Performance Pay Improves Engagement, Progress, and Satisfaction in Computer-Based Job Skills Training of Low-Income Adults,” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Vol. 46, No. 2, 2013, pp. 395-406. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jaba.51
[11]
R. Kuntze and E. Matulich, “Google: Searching for Value,” Journal of Case Research in Business and Economics, Vol. 2, 2010, pp. 1-10.
[12]
A. Rudge, “Birmingham City Council Links Increased Contribution and Outcomes to Reward and Recognition,” Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2011, pp. 6-8.
[13]
P. Sonawane, “Non-monetary Rewards: Employee Choices & Organizational Practices,” Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol. 44, No. 2, 2008, pp. 256-271.
[14]
J. L. Howard, “The Use of Non-Monetary Motivators in Small Business,” The Entrepreneurial Executive, Vol. 13, 2008, pp. 17-29.
[15]
N. Shiraz, M. Rashid and A. Riaz, “The Impact of Reward and Recognition Programs on Employee’s Motivation and Satisfaction,” Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2011, pp. 1428-1434.
[16]
American Optometric Association, “Staff Recognition,” Optometry—Journal of the American Optometric Association, Vol. 82, No. 9, 2011, pp. 566-567.
[17]
J. E. Wynter-Palmer, “Is the Use of Short-Term Incentives Good Organization Strategy?” Compensation & Benefits Review, Vol. 44, No. 5, 2012, pp. 254-265.
[18]
S. Siami, and M. Gorji, “Assessment of Effect of Empowerment on Employees Performance (Case study Telecommunication Company),” Business & Management Review, Vol. 1, No. 8, 2011, pp. 20-24.
[19]
“Ritz-Carlton Employees Go for Gold,” In: Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 10, No. 7, 2002, pp. 23-25.
[20]
A. Sarwar and A. Khalid, “Impact of Employee Empowerment on Employee’s Job Satisfaction and Commitment with the Organization,” Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2011, pp. 664-683.
[21]
D. Elloy, “Effects of Ability Utilization, Job Influence and Organization Commitment on Employee Empowerment: An Empirical Study,” International Journal of Management, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2012, pp. 627-632.
[22]
P. S. Hall, “A New Definition of Punishment,” Reclaiming Children and Youth, Vol. 21, No. 4, 2013, pp. 22-26.
[23]
C. K. Siang, “Punishment as a Price to Pay,” Contemporary Economics, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2012, p. 86.
[24]
S. J. Peterson and F. Luthans, “The Impact of Financial and Nonfinancial Incentives on Business-Unit Outcomes over Time,” Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 91, No. 1, 2006, pp. 156-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.91.1.156
[25]
D. Balliet, L. B. Mulder and P. M. Van Lange, “Reward, Punishment, and Cooperation: A Meta-Analysis,” Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 137, No. 4, 2011, pp. 594-615. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0023489
[26]
R. Islam and A. Z. H. Ismail, “Employee Motivation: A Malaysian Perspective,” International Journal of Commerce & Management, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2008, pp. 344-362. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10569210810921960
[27]
F. B. Zaidi and Z. Abbas, “A Study on the Impact of Rewards on Employee Motivation in the Telecommunication Sector of Pakistan,” Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2011, pp. 978-998.
[28]
K. J. Bouxsein, H. S. Roane and T. Harper, “Evaluating the Separate and Combined Effects of Positive and Negative Reinforcement on Task Compliance,” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Vol. 44, No. 1, 2011, pp. 175-179.