Year 12 IB Extended Essays 2018

Purpose - Purpose is Tesla's greatest asset and generator of motivation. According to Daniel Pink, it is a sense that their job betters their own lives and the world. The proof that Tesla excels in having the most talented employees is solely a result of the purpose it strives for. Tesla primarily does this through its concrete mission statement: “ to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. ” (Rowland, 2018). This is evident through a statement given by a current product specialist V. Danahy, at Tesla. Including why she chose to work at Tesla, instead of Apple (which offered both higher pay and position). She admits, “Tesla is a rigorous company, it’s a marathon, and it’s a boot camp. There’s free cereal and that’s it. It isn’t trying to attract talent with free stuff or benefits, it attracts talent through its core question: Are you crazy enough to change the world with us?” (Quora, 2015). This statement is then supported by the employer’s CEO. Musk swears by having “a very compelling goal for the company. If you put yourself in the shoes of someone who’s talented at a world level, they have to believe that there’s potential for a great outcome and believe in the leader of the company, that you’re the right guy to work with. That can be a difficult thing, especially if you’re trying to attract people from other companies.” This translates to Tesla’s most effective way of delivering purpose is to have a mission to change the world. Daniel Pink’s statement is ultimately reinforced when Danahy chooses intrinsic motivational Tesla rather than extrinsic motivation at Apple.

6.3 - Critical Analysis and reflection on Daniel Pink’s Theory

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