Short-term programs such as campaigns, contests and SPIFs provide management with the tools to measure and reward time-sensitive special focus events of normally brief duration, lasting weeks and maybe months.

As a first step, management pre-identifies goals for participants. Such goals may be common for all participants or unique to individuals, or a combination of common and individual goals.

Payouts are not considered part of target compensation. Such payments tend to be modest with average costs (of all such programs) not exceeding 3% of payroll for the affected group, with no single payout exceeding 15% of base salary.

Primary success of such programs rests with clarity of message and accurate and visible measurement systems.

Used throughout the workforce, such programs can bring excitement to important short-term objectives -- and, if done improperly, distraction to major corporate goals.

Note: Eligible non-exempt (from the Fair Labor Standards Act) personnel need to have their weekly wage-basis calculated to be inclusive of any such earnings before overtime calculations. (Note: Check with legal council for interpretation and application of Wage-Hour rules.)