The Premack Principle: Professional Engineers

Describes the application of Organizational Behaviour Modification (OBMod), and in particular the Premack Principle, to improving the performance of a number of professional electrical engineers. The design and implementation of the behavioural change scheme was undertaken by the engineers′ manager who received approximately one day′s training in the theory and practice of OBMod. Analysis of the behaviour of the engineers revealed that, while they had the ability and resources required to undertake their jobs effectively, their efforts were not resulting in the desired performance. Analysis using the Premack Principle revealed that much of their efforts were being directed towards necessary, but not essential, aspects of their jobs. A scheme of reinforcement was devised for each engineer, involving regular feedback and praise from the manager. Results over a period of one year showed the section moving from the bottom to the top of comparable sections within the organization. Individual improvements in output ranged from 31 to 270 per cent while that for the section as a whole rose by 73 per cent.