Google's 20% percent time is essentially an opportunity that Google provides for it's employees to work on any project of their choosing. The interesting thing is that some of the most innovative ideas have sprouted from this format despite no increase in monetary incentive. It seems without direction, it opens the door for people to be more creative and intrinsically driven. As a result, the creations that arise are products of passion, care, and personal investment. Because of this, it's no surprise that they often become finished works of art or inventions.
I am reminded of an RSA video that attempts to explain what truly motivates us. It turns out that based on human experiment, money is not always the primary driver of human incentive. In fact, when it comes to cognitive tasks, money is seemingly detrimental to performance. When it gets to the core of what really stimulates genuine motivation, we can begin to understand why Google's 20% project is beneficial. According to much of the evidence, people do better when provided an opportunity for autonomy, mastery, and purpose. By allowing people to pursue passions, it fosters self direction. When given self direction, people are likely to strive for virtuosity. Finally, it is important for people to feel like they're making an impact or transcending themselves. Ultimately they want to have purpose. All of this is explained in the video below. As for the 20% project, I'll have the privilege or pursuing a passion of my own in my technology class and am excited about the prospect of doing so..
I am reminded of an RSA video that attempts to explain what truly motivates us. It turns out that based on human experiment, money is not always the primary driver of human incentive. In fact, when it comes to cognitive tasks, money is seemingly detrimental to performance. When it gets to the core of what really stimulates genuine motivation, we can begin to understand why Google's 20% project is beneficial. According to much of the evidence, people do better when provided an opportunity for autonomy, mastery, and purpose. By allowing people to pursue passions, it fosters self direction. When given self direction, people are likely to strive for virtuosity. Finally, it is important for people to feel like they're making an impact or transcending themselves. Ultimately they want to have purpose. All of this is explained in the video below. As for the 20% project, I'll have the privilege or pursuing a passion of my own in my technology class and am excited about the prospect of doing so..