Optimizing Incentive Plan Design: A Case Study

51 Pages Posted: 25 Sep 2011

See all articles by Alec R. Levenson

Alec R. Levenson

University of Southern California - Center for Effective Organizations (CEO)

Cynthia Zoghi

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Michael Gibbs

University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

George S. Benson

University of Texas at Arlington

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

We study effects of a firm's attempt to optimize an existing incentive scheme to increase sales growth for direct store delivery workers. Before optimization workers reported Ratchet Effects that lowered productivity. The altered incentive plan offered higher compensation for increased sales relative to a sales growth target, and lower compensation for failing to meet the target. We gathered data on performance and attitudes at pilot and control sites before and after the change. Relative to control sites, sales growth increased in the pilot sites by two percent, a meaningful contribution to firm profits. We find no change in distortion of effort or manipulation of the performance measure. Workers did not substantially change number of hours worked, though allocation of time across tasks changed slightly. Despite increased productivity, workers continued to report Ratchet Effects after the change. We also find that an unplanned price increase midway through a fiscal year affected the extent of Ratchet Effects that year.

Keywords: incentives, ratchet effect

JEL Classification: M52, J33, M12, L81

Suggested Citation

Levenson, Alec and Zoghi, Cynthia and Gibbs, Michael and Benson, George S., Optimizing Incentive Plan Design: A Case Study. IZA Discussion Paper No. 5985, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1933342 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1933342

Alec Levenson (Contact Author)

University of Southern California - Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) ( email )

Los Angeles, CA 90089
United States
213-821-1095 (Phone)

Cynthia Zoghi

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( email )

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20212
United States

Michael Gibbs

University of Chicago Booth School of Business ( email )

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

George S. Benson

University of Texas at Arlington ( email )

415 S West St Apt no 205
Arlington, TX 76019
United States

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