Employees: Articles/Studies

The following articles and studies address elements of non-sales incentive programs.

Summary of Articles/Studies

At Last, A Real Way to Measure ROI

A study designed to determine which aspects of selling respond to incentive travel and how that response can be measured. Researchers surveyed 1,800 subscribers of Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine and 3,000 members of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association. To present an in-depth picture of incentive travel, and to provide a practical template for determining program ROI, the authors made a point of recording views of both the people who win the awards and those executives who allocate the money to fund them.

Published by: Incentive Research Foundation

Federation Study 2003: Incentive Federation Survey of Motivation and Incentive Applications

The Incentive Federation Inc. has commissioned a survey involving current users of merchandise and travel items for motivational applications. The Center for Concept Development (CCD) was asked to analyze the data collected in this survey and to prepare this report on the survey findings.

Published by: Center for Concept Development, Ltd.

Finding the Right Mix

Determining the right mix of compensation, benefits, training, and rewards & recognition

Published by: Performance Improvement Council

Incentives, Motivation, & Workplace Performance

A summary of research by the ISPI (International Society of Performance Improvement) on the impact of incentive programs and the essential implementation steps necessary for success. Shows how helpful incentive and motivation programs can be in terms of engaging employees and improving performance.

Published by: Incentive Research Foundation

Internal Marketing Best Practices

This study analyzed attempts by a dozen diverse companies to integrate their external and internal marketing practices.

Published by: Northwestern University

Match Employee Awards to Specific Organizational Objectives for Optimal Success

Results from the study Awards Selection: Insights from Managers, conducted by the Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement, sheds light on the efficacy of 12 distinct motivational tactics used by HR and marketing managers across many industries to achieve 10 specific organizational objectives.

Published by: Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement

Motivation In The Hospitality Industry

A study on employee motivation and performance in the hospitality industry that looks at strategies for reducing employee turnover.

Published by: Incentive Research Foundation

Performance Solutions

This white paper discusses the range of "zero-based performance improvement strategies" that can be developed with the help of full-service incentive and performance improvement companies. It also includes contact information on members of the Incentive Marketing Association's Performance Improvement Council, made up of a dozen organizations dedicated to offering companies solutions-based incentive and performance improvement programs.

Published by: Performance Improvement Council of the Incentive Marketing Association

Putting Trophy Value Into Your Gift Card Program

Gift cards have become an important corporate tool for reward and recognition. This paper looks at the growing use of gift cards and how to add to the "trophy value" of gift cards via communication, customization, and presentation.

Published by: Incentive Gift Card Council of the Incentive Marketing Association

Tax Considerations for Incentive Programs

The federal income tax considerations for incentive programs are often overlooked. While it is difficult to give technical tax advice that would apply equally to all incentive programs, following certain general income tax principles can make an incentive program more successful and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Published by: National Association for Employee Recognition

Taxation of Employee Achievement Awards

Section 274(j) of the Internal Revenue Code contains specific rules on the tax treatment of “employee achievement awards.” As a general rule, the employer cannot deduct employee achievement awards, unless they meet certain criteria.

Published by: National Association for Employee Recognition

Testing the Internal Marketing Model

While it is widely believed that employee attitudes and engagement directly influence customer experiences and customer spending behavior, there is little empirical evidence that has explicitly demonstrated this. This study, subtitled "An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between Employee Attitudes, Customer Attitudes, and Customer Spending," combines results from an extensive survey of employees and customers at a hotel chain with the actual spending patterns of customers. Results show a direct, measurable relationship between the employee and customer perceptions of the hotel brand and customer spending behavior.

Published by: Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement

The Birth of a Needed New Profession: People Performance Management

This paper introduces the discipline of "People Performance Management" as developed by the Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement, a unit of the Integrated Marketing Communications Department of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. People Performance Management refers to an integrated process designed to help firms maximize long-term financial performance through a strategic focus on their most valuable asset -- human capital.

Published by: Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement

The Economics of Retention

Improving economic conditions, an impending skilled labor shortage, and the proven link between low turnover and profitability are forcing organizations to take a new look at employee retention. This paper suggests that sound retention strategies can not only head off a future problem, they can save money and improve sales today.

Published by: - Performance Improvement Council of the Incentive Marketing Association -

The Path to Employee Engagement

This study, a follow up by Prof. James Oakley, identified key internal levers that affect employee satisfaction and, more importantly, the level of engagement.

Published by: The Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement

The PMA/Northwestern University ROI of Integrated Marketing Research Project

This study, conducted by Frank Mulhern on behalf of the Promotion Marketing Association with the support of the Forum, identified key challenges facing organizations attempting to fully integrate external and internal marketing.

Published by: The PMA/Northwestern University

The ROI of Integrated Marketing

This white paper highlights four key areas that impact organizational adoption of integrated marketing and motivate employees to think about and cooperate with integrated marketing efforts beyond their functional silos.

Published by: Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement

The Role of Gift Certificates and Gift Cards In Corporate Recognition and Incentive Programs

This paper looks at the types and applications of gift cards and gift certificates and reviews the research that points to the efficacy of gift certificates and cards in achieving business results. Gift certificates and cards have been shown to increase sales, improve employee performance and build loyalty, foster teamwork, and create new markets, among others.

Published by: Incentive Gift Card Council of the Incentive Marketing Association