What approach helped you unite two departments at SIU?

• A. Remind everyone that you all need each other and share the same goal
• B. Set up separate goals for each department
• C. Compete for recognition
• D. Focus only on incentives for the departments

Answer: (D)

Uniting two departments comes down to creating a shared stake in success by aligning incentives. When rewards and recognition are tied to joint outcomes, both teams must coordinate, share information, and align their priorities to reach a common target. In a university setting, you can define a joint objective—such as improving a service metric, reducing processing times, or completing a cross-department project—and tie part of each department’s performance to achieving it. This makes collaboration a concrete pathway to rewards, not just a nice idea, so teams push for smoother handoffs, clearer communication, and mutual support.

Reminding everyone you share a goal can help, but incentives directly shape behavior and accountability, which is why they’re effective for uniting departments. Setting separate goals keeps departments in their silos, and competing for recognition can undermine cooperation. Focusing on incentives, when paired with clear expectations and fair metrics, provides a practical lever to drive cross-department collaboration.