Sooner or Later: The Effects of Timing on Managers’ Discretionary Weighting of Multiple Performance Measures

44 Pages Posted: 21 Aug 2012 Last revised: 25 Jun 2018

See all articles by Stephen Deason

Stephen Deason

Emory University

Gary Hecht

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

William B. Tayler

Brigham Young University

Kristy L. Towry

Emory University

Date Written: June 18, 2018

Abstract

We investigate whether the weights managers place on multiple performance measures for the purpose of determining performance-contingent pay depend on whether weights are determined before or after employees exert effort. We propose that, while the overall purpose of determining these weights (to guide employees toward desired actions) is unaltered by timing, managers frame the weighting decision differently depending on timing. Specifically, prior to employee effort, managers frame the decision as one intended to motivate employee effort in line with firm objectives. After employee effort, managers frame the weighting decision as one intended to evaluate employee effort in a way that can be justified to the employee as fair. Thus, we expect, and find, that managers weight measures that are more congruent with firm objectives more heavily when weightings are determined ex ante (before employee effort) and weight measures that more precisely capture employee effort more heavily when weightings are determined ex post. This effect is mitigated when ex post measure outcomes indicate relatively favorable outcomes for more congruent measures. Our study contributes to academics’ and practitioners’ understanding of how this timing influences these weightings, the implications of which are integral to the effectiveness and efficiency of a firm’s performance measurement and compensation system.

Keywords: subjectivity, performance evaluation, discretion, contracting, compensation

Suggested Citation

Deason, Stephen and Hecht, Gary and Tayler, William B. and Towry, Kristy L., Sooner or Later: The Effects of Timing on Managers’ Discretionary Weighting of Multiple Performance Measures (June 18, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2133092 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2133092

Stephen Deason

Emory University ( email )

201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, GA 30322
United States

Gary Hecht

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( email )

601 E John St
Champaign, IL 61820
United States

William B. Tayler (Contact Author)

Brigham Young University ( email )

Brigham Young University
519 TNRB
Provo, UT 84602
United States
(801) 422-5972 (Phone)
(801) 422-0621 (Fax)

Kristy L. Towry

Emory University ( email )

Goizueta Business School
1300 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
United States
404-727-4895 (Phone)

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
236
Abstract Views
2,000
Rank
199,553
PlumX Metrics