Improving Worker Productivity Through Tailored Performance Feedback: Field Experimental Evidence from Bus Drivers

Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 17-073/VII

72 Pages Posted: 22 Aug 2017 Last revised: 5 Jan 2023

Date Written: January 5, 2023

Abstract

We analyze two forms of feedback in a sample of 409 drivers at a large Dutch bus company: written peer-comparison reports and individual in-person coaching by high-achieving peers. We experimentally vary the nature and number of peer-comparison messages that drivers receive in their monthly feedback report. In addition, we examine the effects of in-person coaching by exploiting quasi-experimental variation in the coaching program that the company implemented in parallel to the written feedback.

We find that in-person coaching generates significant improvements on all dimensions. This effect lasts four to nine weeks. Especially drivers in the bottom half of the performance distribution respond positively to individual coaching. In contrast, the announcement and introduction of written feedback and the inclusion of peer-comparison messages seems ineffective in improving either fuel economy or outcomes pertaining to passenger comfort.

Keywords: labor productivity, feedback, peer comparisons, field experiment, two-way fixed effects

JEL Classification: D23, J24, M53, Q55

Suggested Citation

Romensen, Gert-Jan and Soetevent, Adriaan R., Improving Worker Productivity Through Tailored Performance Feedback: Field Experimental Evidence from Bus Drivers (January 5, 2023). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 17-073/VII, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3021784 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3021784

Gert-Jan Romensen

University of Groningen ( email )

P.O. Box 800
9700 AH Groningen, Groningen 9700 AV
Netherlands

Adriaan R. Soetevent (Contact Author)

University of Groningen ( email )

P.O. Box 800
9700 AV Groningen
Netherlands
++ 31 50 363 7018 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.soetevent.com

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
85
Abstract Views
633
Rank
531,415
PlumX Metrics