Effects of Accounting-Method Choices on Subjective Performance-Measure Weighting: Experimental Evidence on Precision and Error Covariance

55 Pages Posted: 18 Feb 2005

See all articles by Ranjani Krishnan

Ranjani Krishnan

Michigan State University - Department of Accounting & Information Systems

Joan L. Luft

Michigan State University - Department of Accounting & Information Systems

Michael D. Shields

Michigan State University - Department of Accounting & Information Systems

Date Written: February 2005

Abstract

Performance-measure weights for incentive compensation are often determined subjectively. Determining these weights is a cognitively difficult task, and archival research shows that observed performance-measure weights are only partially consistent with the predictions of agency theory. Ittner, Larcker and Meyer (2003) have concluded that psychology theory can help to explain such inconsistencies. In an experimental setting based on Feltham and Xie (1994), we use psychology theories of reasoning to predict distinctive patterns of similarity and difference between optimal and actual subjective performance-measure weights. The following predictions are supported. First, most individuals in our setting use the measures' error variance (precision) and error covariance to determine performance-measure weights. Second, directional errors in the use of these measurement attributes are relatively frequent, resulting in a mean under-reaction to the accounting-method change. Third, individuals seem insufficiently aware that a change in the accounting for one measure has spillover effects on the optimal weighting of the other measure in a two-measure incentive system, and in consequence, they make performance-measure weighting choices that are likely to result in misallocations of agent effort.

Keywords: Decision performance, incentive compensation, mental models, performance measures

JEL Classification: M40, C91, D82, J33, M46

Suggested Citation

Krishnan, Ranjani and Luft, Joan and Shields, Michael D., Effects of Accounting-Method Choices on Subjective Performance-Measure Weighting: Experimental Evidence on Precision and Error Covariance (February 2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=668961 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.668961

Ranjani Krishnan (Contact Author)

Michigan State University - Department of Accounting & Information Systems ( email )

270 North Business Complex
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
United States
517-353-4687 (Phone)
517-432-1101 (Fax)

Joan Luft

Michigan State University - Department of Accounting & Information Systems ( email )

270 North Business Complex
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
United States
517-432-2917 (Phone)
517-432-1101 (Fax)

Michael D. Shields

Michigan State University - Department of Accounting & Information Systems ( email )

270 North Business Complex
East Lansing, MI 48824-1034
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
582
Abstract Views
4,131
Rank
86,056
PlumX Metrics