Comments on: Employee motivation and IP strategy http://www.thinkipstrategy.com/ipthinktank/349/employee-motivation-and-ip-strategy/ Trusted advisors to the world's most innovative companies Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Duncan http://www.thinkipstrategy.com/ipthinktank/349/employee-motivation-and-ip-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-1324 Duncan Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:18:19 +0000 http://localhost:100/thinkipstrategy/?p=349#comment-1324 <p>Thanks canuckinoz - great comments.<br />I've heard many HR experts say that remuneration per se is more of a demotivator than a motivator.  As soon as money is involved, people start comparing and inevitably someone is unhappy.<br />If you're paying your inventing team well to start with, then perhaps further direct financial rewards aren't necessary.  <br />I think this is an area where some creativity and perhaps some targetted thinking will pay off more than just more money.  So, you might find that a weekend away, a set of golf clubs, a car parking space at the office, etc., etc. may work just as well, or even better.</p> Thanks canuckinoz – great comments.
I’ve heard many HR experts say that remuneration per se is more of a demotivator than a motivator.  As soon as money is involved, people start comparing and inevitably someone is unhappy.
If you’re paying your inventing team well to start with, then perhaps further direct financial rewards aren’t necessary. 
I think this is an area where some creativity and perhaps some targetted thinking will pay off more than just more money.  So, you might find that a weekend away, a set of golf clubs, a car parking space at the office, etc., etc. may work just as well, or even better.

]]> By: canuckinoz http://www.thinkipstrategy.com/ipthinktank/349/employee-motivation-and-ip-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-1323 canuckinoz Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:41:28 +0000 http://localhost:100/thinkipstrategy/?p=349#comment-1323 <p>The "reward" must include some sort of remuneration.  Otherwise, employees will not be motivated to assist in the creation of IP, particularly patents.  As you know even understanding what is a patentable invention is often difficult for your average inventive employee. And patent drafting requires particular legal expertise, which by its nature, is not usually part of an inventor's skill set.  To ask most inventors who are scientists and engineers even to work with a good drafter, in addition to their regular duties, requires a strong incentive, generally of some monetary value.  Of course, companies with international operations, particularly in Germany, will be aware of the right of employee inventors to share the "spoils" of their valuable inventions.</p><p>Really key is a reward system that is fair but is aligned with the long time it takes for a patent to be granted.  Many inventors are no longer around when a patent application comes under examination, particularly in Japan.  Everyone in this game knows that it is usually a long journey before an invention becomes valuable IP and the reward system should reflect the stages of value creation.</p> The “reward” must include some sort of remuneration.  Otherwise, employees will not be motivated to assist in the creation of IP, particularly patents.  As you know even understanding what is a patentable invention is often difficult for your average inventive employee. And patent drafting requires particular legal expertise, which by its nature, is not usually part of an inventor’s skill set.  To ask most inventors who are scientists and engineers even to work with a good drafter, in addition to their regular duties, requires a strong incentive, generally of some monetary value.  Of course, companies with international operations, particularly in Germany, will be aware of the right of employee inventors to share the “spoils” of their valuable inventions.

Really key is a reward system that is fair but is aligned with the long time it takes for a patent to be granted.  Many inventors are no longer around when a patent application comes under examination, particularly in Japan.  Everyone in this game knows that it is usually a long journey before an invention becomes valuable IP and the reward system should reflect the stages of value creation.

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