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Cooperation in a Company: A Large-Scale Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Deversi, Marvin

    (LMU Munich)

  • Kocher, Martin G.

    (IHS & University of Vienna)

  • Schwieren, Christiane

    (University of Heidelberg)

Abstract

We analyze cooperation within a company setting in order to study the relationship between cooperative attitudes and financial as well as non-financial rewards. In total, 910 employees of a large software company participate in an incentivized online experiment. We observe high levels of cooperation and the typical conditional contribution patterns in a modified public goods game. When linking experiment and company record data, we observe that cooperative attitudes of employees do not pay off in terms of financial rewards within the company. Rather, cooperative employees receive non-financial benefits such as recognition or friendship as the main reward medium. In contrast to most studies in the experimental laboratory, sustained levels of cooperation in our company setting relate to non-financial values of cooperation rather than solely to financial incentives.

Suggested Citation

  • Deversi, Marvin & Kocher, Martin G. & Schwieren, Christiane, 2020. "Cooperation in a Company: A Large-Scale Experiment," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 233, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    • Handle: RePEc:rco:dpaper:233
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    Cited by:

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    2. Silvia Castro & Hoa Ho & Maren Mickeler, 2025. "Cooperation in the Workplace," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 531, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    3. Josse Delfgaauw & Robert Dur & Oke Onemu & Joeri Sol, 2022. "Team Incentives, Social Cohesion, and Performance: A Natural Field Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(1), pages 230-256, January.
    4. Svajone Bekesiene & Rasa Smaliukiene, 2022. "Personal Growth under Stress: Mediating Effects of Unit Cohesion and Leadership during Mandatory Military Training," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects

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