Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules

Using the Top Five Motivation Factors

A kick in the pants is a particularly bad form of motivation. As Frederick Herzberg points out, a kick in the pants doesn't produce motivation; it just produces movement (Herzberg 1987). To tap into the "10" of that 10-to-1 difference in individual performance, you have to go beyond movement and tap into developers' internal motivations.

Excite your developers. Create an environment in which they can satisfy their internal drives. When people are excited, they will put in long hours and enjoy it. You can generate a sense of excitement by focusing on the five factors that most influence developer motivation: achievement, possibility for growth, work itself, personal life, and technical-supervision opportunity. ...