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Performance Measure Properties and Incentive System Design
Author(s) -
GIBBS MICHAEL J.,
MERCHANT KENNETH A.,
VAN DER STEDE WIM A.,
VARGUS MARK E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
industrial relations: a journal of economy and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.61
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1468-232X
pISSN - 0019-8676
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-232x.2009.00556.x
Subject(s) - incentive , measure (data warehouse) , distortion (music) , incentive program , performance measurement , plan (archaeology) , computer science , risk analysis (engineering) , business , microeconomics , economics , marketing , data mining , history , amplifier , computer network , archaeology , bandwidth (computing)
We analyze effects of performance measure properties (controllable and uncontrollable risk, distortion, and manipulation) on incentive plan design, using data from auto dealership manager incentive systems. Dealerships put the most weight on measures that are “better” with respect to these properties. Additional measures are more likely to be used for a second or third bonus if they can mitigate distortion or manipulation in the first performance measure. Implicit incentives are used to provide ex post evaluation, to motivate the employee to use controllable risk on behalf of the firm, and to deter manipulation of performance measures. Overall, our results indicate that firms use incentive systems of multiple performance measures, incentive instruments, and implicit evaluation and rewards as a response to weaknesses in available performance measures.