When I first shared the concept of compliance motivators with a group of WSU employees, I followed up with a survey to assess theirs. Where does your compliance motivator align in comparison to your colleagues?

The survey measured agreement with four statements about compliance motivators and then asked for one primary motivator. The results show the broad range of emotional connection to the different motivators.

Fear for Self results underscore how integrated compliance systems are in our job responsibilities.

Fear for the Business results skew toward even stronger agreement, suggesting we're collectively more motivated by our concern for WSU than personal concern.

Noble Cause and Competitive Edge show strong agreement with both, but agreement peaked with Fear for the Business. This shows our affection for the university and interest in its success while also recognizing that compliance is an important part of our jobs that we want and need to do well. 

Fear for Self motivates my compliance efforts; bad things could happen to me personally such as being fired, going to jail, or not being promoted.

• Strongly disagree - 2
• Disagree - 2
• Somewhat disagree - 4
• Somewhat agree - 9
• Agree - 17
• Strongly agree - 11

Fear for the Business motivates my compliance efforts; bad things could happen to the university such as fines levied, contracts lost, or reputation sullied.

• Strongly disagree - 0
• Disagree - 0
• Somewhat disagree - 0
• Somewhat agree - 4
• Agree - 18
• Strongly agree - 23

Noble Cause motivates my compliance efforts; strong systems provide a powerful positive culture including sense of purpose, being part of a movement, and doing more for the community.

• Strongly disagree - 0
• Disagree - 0
• Somewhat disagree - 2
• Somewhat agree - 6
• Agree - 18
• Strongly agree - 19

Competitive Edge motivates my compliance efforts; a business advantage can be gained from good governance, proper procedures, and effective compliance systems.

• Strongly disagree - 1
• Disagree - 0
• Somewhat disagree - 2
• Somewhat agree - 14
• Agree - 17
• Strongly agree - 11

My primary compliance motivator is:

• Fear for Self - 13
• Fear for the Business - 14
• Noble Cause - 13
• Competitive Edge - 5

The results show that not everyone connects with compliance in the same way. How would you respond to the survey? What's your primary motivator?

Naturally, robust compliance does not guarantee trouble-free. But avoidable breakdowns divert time, effort and money away from the university's efforts to be a an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas, and internationally recognized as the model for applied learning and research. Good reasons to be motivated by compliance.