Close Search
 
MEDIA, JOBS & RESOURCES for the COMMON GOOD
News  |  Careers

Pay and Bonuses Don’t Buy Creativity - Study


13 February 2012 at 11:47 am
Staff Reporter
An open, supportive and stimulating workplace is more important than pay or bonuses in driving the success of fast-growth small-to-medium enterprises, a new study has found.

Staff Reporter | 13 February 2012 at 11:47 am


1 Comments


 Print
Pay and Bonuses Don’t Buy Creativity - Study
13 February 2012 at 11:47 am

An open, supportive and stimulating workplace is more important than pay or bonuses in driving the success of fast-growth small-to-medium enterprises, a new study has found.

The study 'Drivers of learning orientation in fastgrowth SMEs' by RMIT University, surveyed 253 owners, founders and CEOs of Australia’s fastest-growing SMEs and found workplaces that encouraged open communication, experimentation and risk-taking among employees were more learning oriented – a key factor that differentiates fast-growth companies from those that fail to grow.

Lecturer in entrepreneurship at RMIT, and lead investigator of the study, Dr Carol Tan, said that learning-oriented firms were more competitive because they could respond quickly to changing markets and unpredictable events, readily discarding old competencies and developing new approaches.

“Fast-growth SMEs are the high-power engines of our economy, comprising only 3 to 10 per cent of firms but generating up to 90 per cent of employment growth,” Tan said.

“These companies are not just the most innovative and creative, they’re also the most learning oriented.”

The research by Dr Tan, Professor Kosmas Smyrnios and Lin Xiong in RMIT’s School of Management showed there was no significant relationship between reward-related human resources practices and learning orientation.

“Our study showed that providing financial incentives linked to performance does not motivate staff to learn – money can’t buy creativity,” Tan said.

“Instead, we found an open workplace culture, where staff can experiment, take risks and question fundamental beliefs and work patterns, is critical to learning.”

Tan said that leaders needed to act as role models, stimulating employees intellectually, providing a road map, and focusing on creating the supportive environment that will build a truly learning oriented enterprise and drive their firm’s success.

“Benefits and bonuses have their role, but they do not necessarily mean employees are committed to learning or to the goals of the venture,” she said.

“In contrast, our study indicated that learning orientation in a firm is only enhanced when high levels of motivation are maintained and employees are treated as valuable resources.”
 

Want Pro Bono Australia News delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe now – it's free! 




Tags : Career News, RMIT,

 Print

Get more stories like this

FREE SOCIAL
SECTOR NEWS

One comment

  • Anonymous says:

    A timely article. As the NFP sector continues its moves to greater transparency and accountability, it is in danger of continuing its sad decline into manage-by-number mediocrity.

    Boards and Executive leadership are pre-occupied by notions of vision and good governance, yet fail to share organisational objectives (the real ones) and support open, learning and growth-oriented environments.

    Professionalism, transparency and accountability should not preclude enjoyment, openness, calculated risk and innovation within NFPs.


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

CEO benefits: what are the trends in not-for-profits?

Danielle Kutchel

Thursday, 26th September 2024 at 12:37 am

System selection for NFPs: Why the best is not always right

Dog & Bone

Friday, 6th September 2024 at 8:38 am

Addressing the Affordable Housing Crisis

Barry Vienet

Friday, 30th August 2024 at 9:00 am

pba inverse logo
Subscribe Twitter Facebook
×