NCJ Number
19602
Date Published
1974
Length
29 pages
Annotation
THESE INTERIM EVALUATIONS OF THE ORANGE (CA) PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN FOR POLICE AND THE FLINT (MI) INCENTIVE SYSTEM FOR WASTE COLLECTORS INCLUDE ASSESSMENTS OF PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT AND ENHANCED JOB SATISFACTION.
Abstract
BOTH THESE PROGRAMS RELY ON QUANTITATIVE MEASURES OF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN DETERMINING THE AWARDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED. CONSEQUENTLY, EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IS LINKED TO INCENTIVE REWARDS THROUGH 'OBJECTIVE' FORMULAS RATHER THAN SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS BY CITY MANAGEMENT. IN EVALUATING THE FLINT AND ORANGE INCENTIVE EFFORTS, THE URBAN INSTITUTE UTILIZED PREVIOUS INSTITUTE RESEARCH ON MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF WASTE COLLECTION AND CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. A LIST OF CRITERIA USED IN ASSESSING EMPLOYEE JOB SATISFACTION IS PROVIDED. THE EVALUATORS WERE CONSTRAINED TO THE USE OF EXISTING, READILY AVAILABLE DATA DUE TO THE LIMITED TIME AND FUNDS AVAILABLE; CONSEQUENTLY, IT WAS NECESSARY TO RELY ON DEPARTMENT RECORDS AND INTERVIEWS WITH PROGRAM PERSONNEL. IN BOTH CASES, THE EVALUATION STRATEGY INVOLVED THE COLLECTION AND COMPARISON OF EVALUATIVE DATA FOR COMPARABLE TIME PERIODS BEFORE AND AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM. AMONG THE PROBLEMS NOTED IN THESE TWO MODESTLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS ARE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROGRAM, COMPLICATED AND UNEXPECTED IMPACTS, A NEED FOR ACCURATE BASELINE DATA, POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH EQUITY, AND THE NEED FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEWS TO INSURE CONFIDENCE IN THE RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION USED TO DETERMINE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)