An incentive to change

The letter from Leonard Holmes in PM on 23 April should cause a tidal wave in the HR and reward communities – but I doubt it will cause even a ripple. Few, if any, in the established “church” of popular behaviourism will dare to challenge the religious dogma that “appraisals, incentive pay and rewards motivate people”. There is much vested interest in promoting such schemes.I absolutely agree with his analysis of the Turner Review and the challenge he is throwing to the reward management and HR communities. However, the request for sound research, challenging sacred cows and the development of sustainable theory was undertaken decades ago.