It might work for you but it's a horrible way to manage people in general.
Motivation by arbitrary imposed deadline is a standard dev nightmare isn't it? I've watched two companies destroy themselves with this tactic.
Personal motivation and goal setting and even team based motivation and goal setting is important, sure, but you better have other motivation techniques ready when your "hard deadline with almost no regard for difficulty" gets completely missed and the team is depressed and bitter about missing it even after all the effort that was put in.
Also, your team isn't stupid (hopefully). So when they bust their asses to hit that deadline and the next day nothing happens, because it was arbitrary, they learn not to listen to your deadlines.
Good point, I was assuming this was done transparently. In the same way that contests are run, a date is chosen, announced and then met with the full knowledge that pride and perhaps a reward are on the line.
Also this can't be the only way you set deadlines as any team would rapidly burn out.
Ah, gotcha. That type of push or stretch goal is something different. I've never tried it though, anyone have any experience with this type of motivation?
Motivation by arbitrary imposed deadline is a standard dev nightmare isn't it? I've watched two companies destroy themselves with this tactic.
Personal motivation and goal setting and even team based motivation and goal setting is important, sure, but you better have other motivation techniques ready when your "hard deadline with almost no regard for difficulty" gets completely missed and the team is depressed and bitter about missing it even after all the effort that was put in.
Also, your team isn't stupid (hopefully). So when they bust their asses to hit that deadline and the next day nothing happens, because it was arbitrary, they learn not to listen to your deadlines.