At what stage in the KPI implementation project should KPIs be linked to rewards?

Linking KPIs to rewards is a sensitive design decision because it can strongly shape behavior and increase the risk of gaming, tunnel behavior, and data manipulation if done poorly. The best practice is to align KPI-based rewards through the formal rewards and recognition program coordinated by HR , ensuring consistent policy, fairness, calibration, and governance—so option B is correct. Doing it immediately upon activation (C) is risky because KPIs may still be stabilizing (definitions, data quality, baseline variability), and teams may not yet trust the measurement. “Within 12 months” (D) can sometimes be appropriate as a rule of thumb, but it is not universally correct; the key is governance alignment, not an arbitrary time delay. “Never” (A) is too absolute; some KPIs are legitimately tied to incentives when designed carefully and balanced with quality/compliance measures. A strong implementation plan typically includes a period of “measurement-only” to validate data and behaviors, then HR-led integration where appropriate, with safeguards such as balanced scorecards, auditability, and clear exception handling.