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Performance Pay and Managerial Experience in Multitask Teams: Evidence from within a Firm

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  • Rachel Griffith
  • Andrew Neely

Abstract

This article exploits a quasi-experimental setting to estimate the impact that a commonly used performance-related pay scheme had on branch performance in a large distribution firm. The scheme, which is based on the Balanced Scorecard, was implemented in all branches in one division but not in another. Branches from the second division are used as a control group. Our results suggest that the Balanced Scorecard had some impact but that it varied with branch characteristics, and, in particular, branches with more experienced managers were better able to respond to the new incentives. (c) 2009 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

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  • Rachel Griffith & Andrew Neely, 2009. "Performance Pay and Managerial Experience in Multitask Teams: Evidence from within a Firm," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(1), pages 49-82, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:27:y:2009:i:1:p:49-82
    DOI: 10.1086/596324
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    Cited by:

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    2. Fuhai Hong & Tanjim Hossain & John A. List & Migiwa Tanaka, 2018. "Testing The Theory Of Multitasking: Evidence From A Natural Field Experiment In Chinese Factories," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 59(2), pages 511-536, May.
    3. Lucie Sychrová, 2013. "Measuring the effectiveness of marketing activities use in relation to company size," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 493-500.
    4. Aydemir, Abdurrahman B. & Kırdar, Murat G., 2017. "Quasi-experimental impact estimates of immigrant labor supply shocks: The role of treatment and comparison group matching and relative skill composition," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 282-315.
    5. Fu, Xiaolan & Fu, Xiaoqing (Maggie) & Ghauri, Pervez & Hou, Jun, 2022. "International collaboration and innovation: Evidence from a leading Chinese multinational enterprise," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).
    6. Claudio Lucifora, 2015. "Performance-related pay and labor productivity," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 152-152, May.
    7. Ittner, Christopher D., 2014. "Strengthening causal inferences in positivist field studies," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 545-549.
    8. Bogaard, Hein & Svejnar, Jan, 2018. "Incentive pay and performance: Insider econometrics in a multi-unit firm," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 100-115.
    9. Bartel, Ann P. & Freeman, Richard B. & Ichniowski, Casey & Kleiner, Morris M., 2011. "Can a workplace have an attitude problem? Workplace effects on employee attitudes and organizational performance," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 411-423, August.
    10. Charness, Gary & Kuhn, Peter, 2011. "Lab Labor: What Can Labor Economists Learn from the Lab?," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 3, pages 229-330, Elsevier.
    11. Gall, Thomas & Hu, Xiaocheng & Vlassopoulos, Michael, 2023. "Incentivizing Team Leaders: A Firm-Level Experiment on Subjective Performance Evaluation of Leadership Skills," IZA Discussion Papers 16123, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Ann P. Bartel, 2017. "Multitasking at work: Do firms get what they pay for?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 362-362, May.
    13. Nicholas Bloom & Erik Brynjolfsson & Lucia Foster & Ron Jarmin & Megha Patnaik & Itay Saporta-Eksten & John Van Reenen, 2019. "What Drives Differences in Management Practices?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(5), pages 1648-1683, May.
    14. Nishani Bourmault & Jordan Siegel, 2022. "Why Local Adaptation Sometimes Fails to be Effective for MNEs: Exploring the Dynamics of Collective Bonuses, Egalitarianism, and Informal Norms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(4), pages 886-924, June.

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