Setting Consecutive Difficult Goals Has a Dark Side - Unethical Behaviour

February 05, 2014
Research Fact :
Setting Consecutive Difficult Goals Has a Dark Side - Unethical Behaviour 
( important fact for managers and supervisors ) 
Finding : 
Consecutive high-performance goals deplete employees’ cognitive resources and tend to exacerbate unethical behavior over time . 
For example, research participants who were given the most difficult goals in a series of arithmetic tasks CHEATED 84% more than the average !! 
Advice for Managers : 
 Although tough goals can increase performance, managers should be aware that consecutive DIFFICULT goals may generate NEGATIVE  consequences for organizations, the researchers say . 
Research Conducted by :  David T. Welsh of the University of Washington and Lisa D. Ordóñez of the University of Arizona. 
SOURCE: The dark side of consecutive high performance goals: Linking goal setting, depletion, and unethical behavior