Using NBA, study finds that pay differences among top performers can erode cooperation

NBA teams that paid their core players inequitably won fewer games as a result of reduced cooperation, according to a Washington State University study with implications for workplace management. While it draws on data from professional basketball, the study suggests that managers in the workplace should ensure they're paying top performers fairly in relation to each other and emphasize the goal of team coordination—organized, synchronized effort, with each team member carrying out their role.