ABSTRACT

The directors and managers of soccer teams have to win the match, keep the team motivated, keep the fans happy, keep the media frustrated, keep the president proud of the team, and prosper in the long term. If their team is not the champion the season, it does not matter whether they prosper in the long term. A top manager is usually over 50 years old, has held several positions, and has supervised many projects. If one’s native language uses more of the future tense, then one may have to compensate for that in their company culture and own personal outlook. It is a common practice to reward top managers with shares of the company based on their longevity and success. If the CEO is also a shareholder, the result may be an even greater emphasis on short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability. For C-level execs, incentives define their motivation.