Economics of Motivation (MSB300)

What drives people to work hard? Why do we try our best in some settings, while in others we tend to slack off? In this class we explore how employees are motivated and the tools that can increase employees' motivation. We apply microeconomic theory, game theory, behavioral economics and psychology to investigate topics such as incentives, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, peer effects, performance feedback, employer recognition, autonomy, competitiveness, reciprocity, procrastination, mindset, purpose and social status. An important learning experience involves collaborating with classmates and acting as a consultant team for a real firm or organization. These consultant teams will compete against each other in the UiS Business School Sandnes Sparebank Case Competition for a monetary prize awarded to the best consultant report.

NB! This is an elective course and may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students are enrolled by August 20th for the autumn semester.


Course description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Course code

MSB300

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Content

In this class we leverage behavioral science to understand motivation in the workplace. We explore how job design is linked to employees' effectiveness and motivation, and how organizational change and management can increase employees' motivation. We apply microeconomic theory, game theory, behavioral economics and psychology to investigate topics such as incentives, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, peer effects, performance feedback, employer recognition, autonomy, competitiveness, reciprocity, procrastination, mindset, purpose and social status.

An important learning experience in this course is to collaborate with classmates and act as a consultant team for a real firm/organization. Your team will write a report evaluating how the employees at the firm/organization are motivated, including your recommendations for how to increase motivation. Your report will be based on interviews with a manager in the firm/organization. The three teams with the best case reports will be given the opportunity to present their work to an expert committee in the UiS Business School Sandnes Sparebank Case Competition. The committee will select the team with the best case study, and the winning team will receive a prize.

We will use scientific journal articles in addition to some chapters from the textbook Personnel Economics in Practice by Edward P. Lazear and Michael Gibbs (2014). An important goal is to learn how to read international journal articles, think critically about the empirical evidence, and communicate the research findings to colleagues. Together with classmates you will be responsible for presenting a relevant journal article at a student seminar.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

Upon completion of the course, students will better understand:

  • how people are motivated to do their best in the workplace
  • the role of behavioral science in understanding motivation in the workplace
  • how job design is linked to employee effectiveness and motivation
  • how organizational change and management can increase employees' motivation

Skills:

Upon completion of the course, students will have learned:

  • to apply microeconomic theory, game theory, behavioral economics and empirical evidence to explore traditional general management questions
  • to conduct a case study of how employees in a real-life organization are motivated
  • to interact with a real-life organization and provide it with recommendations on how to improve employee motivation
  • how to learn from reading articles in international journals and think critically about empirical evidence
  • how to collaborate effectively in groups

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam

Folder evaluation

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Individual home exam 2 Weeks Letter grades All
Group case study report Letter grades

Students will receive one grade based on the two components in the folder. Only students who have completed the group case study and the course requirements during the course, will be allowed to take the individual home exam.There will be no resits for the exam. If students are sick during the exam period, an extension will be granted.

Coursework requirements

Presentations in group (scientific paper presentation), At least 70% overall attendance, 100% Compulsory attendance first week of class

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Mari Rege

Course teacher:

Sadaf Basharat

Study Program Director:

Yuko Onozaka

Course teacher:

Mari Rege

Method of work

1. Lectures: 18 hours

2. Seminar (scientific paper presentations): 4 hours

3. Case study seminars: 22 hours

4. Guidance: as needed

5. Self-study: 120 hours

6. Preparing case study: 90 hours

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Economics of Motivation (MØA300_1) 10

Open for

Admission to Single Courses at UiS Business School
Industrial Economics - Master of Science Degree Programme Master of Science in Accounting and Auditing Business Administration - Master of Science
Exchange programmes at UIS Business School

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto