The “Perverse” Incentives Caused by Guaranteed Bonuses

On August 28, 2009

The “Perverse” Incentives Caused by Guaranteed Bonuses

Stock options and grants were once the lure of choice used by companies to attract top talent. No longer, thanks to a dour stock market and regulatory scrutiny of stock option programs. Now it's guaranteed bonuses that employers are using to bait the hook. Come work for us and we will guarantee you X salary, a Y bonus, and and maybe even give you additional bonuses based on how much business you generate. But any pay scheme that rewards employees for production while insulating them from downside risk motivates them to take careless, company-harming bets. That's the argument made by Harvard professor Lucian Bebchuk in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed. (Subscription required) "Guaranteed bonuses create perverse incentives to take...
On August 28, 2009

iPhone Heads to China, Big Strategy Shift?

Tablet? They don't need no stinkin' tablet. Apple has just closed on its next mighty growth engine ... which happens to be the same one it's been riding. China Unicom has signed a three-year deal to sell the iPhone to China's estimated 600 plus million cell phone subscribers. Right, not potential subscribers. Actual. But digging into the numbers suggests that Apple has been at least flirting with a significant change in its corporate strategy.
On August 28, 2009

Want to Be More Productive? Step Away from that Desk!

A recent poll conducted by the American Psychological Association reports that among workers aged 45-54, 81 percent of men and 68 percent of women considered work a significant source of stress. With this in mind, a pair of recent posts on the Harvard Business Publishing blogs seemed especially relevant.
On August 28, 2009

World’s Absolutely Strangest Television Ads?

I'm not completely sure if there are the absolutely strangest TV ads ever made, but they're certain among the top fifty or so.  These are the kind of ads that make you wonder whether ad agencies are out of their minds. I've added a poll to each video so that you can vote on how strange you think it is. CLICK HERE for the first strange television ad » NUMBER 10 This one seems like a commercial for children, but it's clearly something that came out of the brain of Salvadore Dali... [poll id="411"] Click here for the next strange television ad » NUMBER 9 Ah yes, if you want to sell something, traipse out the robot babies… [poll...
On August 28, 2009

Social Media Is Not the Message

mediaisnotthemessageSocial marketing is a shiny new toy and almost everyone is wising up and getting involved, as they should. In fact, a rumor is spreading that the new Mac OS, Snow Leopard, is integrating Facebook addresses directly into its own address book app. There’s no question that social applications are becoming…

On August 28, 2009

Confessions of a Comment Addict

My name is Johnny Truant, and I am a comment addict. A large amount of my self-worth as a blogger is defined not by my traffic, or readership, or income, or buzz. It’s defined by the relatively meaningless number below each post that counts the people who fill out a form and click Submit. On [...]
On August 28, 2009

Eight Things You Need to Know About Google Voice

For starters, it'll give you malaria. Oops, sorry -- that's something you need to know about mosquitoes. Should you care about Google Voice? Yes, I think so. It might not be for everyone, though, as Rick has already discussed, so I've put together this list of eight things you absolutely should know about Google Voice -- four good, and, for equal time, four bad.  Read 'em and make up your own mind. The Good 1. One number to rule them all. Google Voice lets you give ot a single photo number that will ring any or all of your phones -- home, mobile, work, you name it. 2. Voicemail transcriptions. Every voice mail automatically gets transcribed, stored online in text...
On August 28, 2009

Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus And He Searches for Free Shipping

This post was originally published in August 2008 and is part of our Get Elastic rerun series. Here’s a tip for retailers who offer free shipping on one or more products during the holidays. (My apologies to those who don’t offer free shipping, but bookmark this anyway - you may offer it down the road!) Free [...]
On August 28, 2009

How Internet TV Gear Can Stay in the Picture

Blockbuster and Samsung recently announced that Blockbuster OnDemand will be available on select connected HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and home theater systems starting in the fall of 2009. Samsung will offer connected Blu-ray players and home theater systems with both the Netflix and Blockbuster online services.
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