Tracking and Teamwork Performance

Auferoth F, Eskofier B, Gerber L, Grimm V, Richer R, Rohleder N (2020)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Other publication type

Publication year: 2020

Abstract

In a lab-in-the-field experiment, we investigate how using tracking and tracing technology impacts work performance, division of tasks, and stress levels of individuals measured by salivary biomarkers in team work. We focus on situations where individuals engage in teamwork and compare treatments, in which (i) teams are not subject to tracking technology and all team members receive equal payment depending on the team output; (ii) team interactions are tracked and analyzed and all team members receive equal payment depending on the team output; (iii) team interactions are tracked and analyzed to estimate individual productivity and each team member receives a payment that is proportional to estimated worker productivity. The tracking technology employed measures team interactions in the form of individual discussion contributions. The results do not indicate increased biological activation levels, but provide some evidence for increases in social stress when teams are tracked. The tracking does not affect the individual or the team output. Payment contingent on individual performance indicators significantly reduces how specialized team members work but does not affect the output. Our findings suggest that the effects of tracking and of individual incentives on stress levels and on productivity are modest. We provide some further analysis of diversification as insurance mechanism against the risk of low payment under individual incentives. As result of low power we find no sufficient evidence that risk preferences can explain the specialization difference between team and individual incentives.

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How to cite

APA:

Auferoth, F., Eskofier, B., Gerber, L., Grimm, V., Richer, R., & Rohleder, N. (2020). Tracking and Teamwork Performance.

MLA:

Auferoth, Florian, et al. Tracking and Teamwork Performance. 2020.

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