The Incentive Dilemma: Intrinsic Motivation and Workplace Performance

Incentive plans are a core component of many radiology positions and are often considered a major factor in the ability to recruit and retain high-performing radiologists. Financial incentives are widely thought to be effective at motivating individuals, but there is considerable evidence to the contrary. In this report, the authors examine basic assumptions about financial incentives and debate the potential negative impact of financial incentive systems on performance at radiology practices.