Cooperation in the Workplace: Experimental Evidence from Knowledge Workers

Abstract
Organizations rely on peer-to-peer knowledge exchange among employees, yet incentivizing cooperative behaviors is a challenge. This study evaluates an intervention designed to encourage peer support in the second largest bank in Uganda. Using a cluster randomized controlled trial, we introduced a public recognition incentive-awarding employees identified as the most supportive by their peers and supervisors. Results show that the intervention increases employees' willingness to help by 21% in expertisesharing and 12% in mentoring. The incentive's effectiveness stems from its role in enhancing professional reputation and career prospects. A replication exercise in a second bank confirms the findings and the external validity of the results. Joint paper with Hoa Ho and Maren Mickeler.

Keywords: Workplace cooperation, Peer recognition, Organizational incentives, Knowledge sharing, Field experiment, Employee motivation, Randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Link to paper.