Charles Morrow’s article, Myths of Management, recounts the “cobra effect” or how reward systems plans do not always produce the expected consequences.  During India’s colonial period, Britain sought to rid the continent of cobras.  A bounty for dead cobras was instituted with the expectation that the cobras could be either eliminated or substantially reduced.  Instead, the opposite happened.  Residents started to raise cobras so they could have a steady stream of reward income. 
Read More