I think it's pretty fair to say that public humiliation is not an effective way of motivating people. People can argue the definition of what constitutes humiliation or degrees of how it is applied, but the sum of the story seems to be that it just doesn't work.

I also think it's fair to assume that this is common knowledge for most managers. We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with self-help information and training through work, internet, magazines, tv, books, etc. Honestly, if you're a manager and somehow didn't catch this tidbit of news then you really have your head in the sand. And if the perpetrator's boss doesn't notice and deal with it, then you've got a potentially bigger problem on your hands.

Speaking of common knowledge let's take this a step further. I think most would agree that publicly humiliating people actually deters motivation and creates hostility. It's entirely possible that no hostility existed before said humiliation technique was applied, but I would bet my beach-front property in Mexico [I wish!] that there will be some lingering resentment after the fact. I know that it pisses me off.

Oh, and a lot of other people feel the same....

~tod

PS: I'm speaking solely about motivating people to do something, not punishing them for a crime committed.