1. How Does an iPod Make You Feel? Andy Jacobson University of St. Thomas Master of Business Communication Program May 18, 2005

2. What the Experts Say “While companies have been investing more and more money in such programs, the evidence of their effectiveness in terms of improved morale and performance has steadily declined.” Bob Nelson, Ph.D, discussing recognition programs in “Revive Recognition” “Money has serious motivational limitations.” Dean R. Spitzer, Ph.D, in “Power rewards: rewards that really motivate”

3. What I Wanted to Find Out I wanted to determine the truth of these statements by testing them against the Martin/Williams incentive package. Research Question Does the Martin/Williams incentive package affect employee attitudes?

4. How I Went About It Designed paper survey Sent to all 186 full-time Martin/Williams employees Sent to all 186 full-time Martin/Williams employees Included Martin/Williams and its independent operating units Included Martin/Williams and its independent operating units Contained 17 questions Contained 17 questions 54 surveys were returned (29% response rate) And here’s what I found out …

5. On a scale of barely to extremely important, rank incentives based on importance. Percentage of employees who viewed incentives as “important or “extremely important:” Time Sheet Bonus (performance reward)78% Time Sheet Bonus (performance reward)78% Holiday party (social event)69% Holiday party (social event)69% E-mails from agency president 68% E-mails from agency president 68% (contact with senior leadership) (contact with senior leadership) iPod (gift)57% iPod (gift)57%

6. Have the iPod and time sheet bonus influenced your attitude toward your employer? 89% of employees responded “positively impacted.” (Impact: positive, negative, hardly a factor)

7. How much does the iPod and time sheet bonus’ perceived cash value influence your opinion of it? Influence: Major/moderate59% Major/moderate59% Low/hardly41% Low/hardly41% (Influence: major, moderate, low, hardly a factor)

8. What Did I Find Out? Does the Martin/Williams incentive package affect employee attitudes? YES. Despite what Nelson indicated, the investment by Martin/Williams appears to be worthwhile. Unlike what Spitzer claimed, employees respond quite favorably to incentives with an inherent cash value.

9. What Do We Do About It? Foster a continued sense of inclusion through more social events and contact with senior leadership. Make employees feel they have earned an incentive as opposed to just being given something.

10. Questions?