Kick In The Ass (KITA) is a motivational method. This theory involves punishing or threatening workers who are not performing their basic duties adequately and is normally used in businesses in order to improve productivity or quality.
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Methods of KITA
KITA can often be taken literally and be in the form of a physical attack. However, this form is not openly used and is illegal. [1]
- Docked Wages – Businesses can often dock wages in order to encourage workers to work harder if productivity or quality levels are not met.
- Other forms of punishments - Businesses often issue under-performing employees with punishments. These can consist of forcing workers to do unwanted jobs.
- Positive KITA - Some businesses employ a “Positive KITA” method and offer workers incentives to meet targets. Workers may gain bonuses or increased wages for meeting or exceeding targets.
Advantages
Managers who take the approach of McGregor’s Theory X management style often follow this style. They believe that all workers are inherently lazy and will avoid work if they can, thus they need a KITA to get moving. KITA can also be used in a non work environment, such as by personal trainers.[2]
Disadvantages
This approach can lead to employees feeling demotivated and humiliated. It can also lead to employees trying to deceive managers and pretending that they are working in order to avoid a KITA and invest more time in not getting caught than working. [3]Herzberg rejects the idea of ‘motivating’ with a KITA and refers it as an acronym for Kick In The A (Pants) and that is treating people as animals rather than human beings, “To get people to do things as animals, you move them. When I respond as an animal because I want to avoid being hurt, that's movement.”[4]As well as this, he also believes that positive KITA is not affective as true motivation goes beyond inducing action to “install a generator” in the employee. [5] T.J. Rodgers founder of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation is also against KITA as he believes that KITA doesn’t work as he believes it affects the workers self esteem. [6]
References
- ^ One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees? by Frederick Herzberg (word document- Education Resource)
- ^ Natural Strength: Training Strategies By Bob Whelan (Trascript of arrticle in Hardgainermagazine issue #56, September-October 1998)
- ^ Student BMJ: "How to improve your motivation at work"
- ^ Monitor, Volume 22, "Global Management By Stress"
- ^ One More Time: How Do You Motivate Employees?
- ^ Recruiting News-Net Temps -"Interview: T.J. Rodgers' 20 years of No Excuses Management"
