Questions:
- What is the “candle problem”? Were you puzzled by the results?
- What kind of mismatch between science and business does the presenter talk about?
- Do you usually find a “carrot-and-stick” policy efficient?
- What are “the business blocks of the new operating system”?
- Would the ROWE (results only work environment) system work for you?
- What kinds of incentives work for you?
- Can you think of any example which proves or disproves the theory that the presenter is talking about?
Vocabulary:
at the outset = at the beginning of something
indiscretion = the act of saying or doing something without thinking about the effect it may have, especially when this embarrasses or offends somebody
in a moment of youthful indiscretion
to put it mildly = to understate something; to say something politely
against my better judgement =although it is perhaps the wrong thing to do
a thumbtack = a short pin with a large round flat head, used especially for fastening paper to a board or wall
to adhere (the candle to the wall) = to stick firmly to something
a receptacle = a container for putting something in
power of incentives
an incentive = something that encourages you to do something
to incentivize people
to sharpen thinking – to dull thinking
to accelerate creativity – to block creativity
aberration — a fact, an action or a way of behaving that is not usual, and that may be unacceptable (отклонение от нормы)
contingent on/upon = depending on something that may or may not happen
contingent motivators
All payments are contingent upon satisfactory completion dates.
extrinsic/intrinsic motivators
a mismatch between = a combination of things or people that do not go together well or are not suitable for each other
rule-based work
to marshall (evidence) = gather and organize
rubble of the economic collapse = broken bits and pieces of anything, as that which is demolished
to entice (people with) = to persuade somebody/something to go somewhere or to do something, usually by offering them something
to emanate (from nature) = to come from something or somewhere
compliance = the practice of obeying rules or requests made by people in authority
turnover (of people) = the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by other people
to deploy (incentives) = to use something effectively
to go head to head = to compete with someone directly
I rest my case = I have completed the presentation of my argument. (Said by a lawyer)