Incentive Systems and Proactive Work Behavior: The Moderating Effects of Task Uncertainty

Lan GUO, On Wing Bernard WONG, Gladie LUI

Research output: Other Conference ContributionsAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Two important features of incentive systems are the degree to which performance evaluation is based on behaviors (vs. outcomes) and the magnitude of incentive intensity. We examine how these two features influence employees’ proactive work behavior (PWB). We propose that the two features each interacts with task uncertainty (TU) to influence employees’ autonomous motivation, which in turn impacts employee PWB.

We conducted a survey among 309 employees from various companies in Hong Kong. Multi-group Structural Equation Modeling analyses results suggest that: (1) behavior- (vs. outcome-) based performance evaluation had a positive effect on autonomous motivation and PWB when TU level was high, but a negative effect when TU level was low; (2) incentive intensity had a greater positive effect on autonomous motivation when TU level was high than when it was low; and (3) employees’ autonomous motivation had a positive effect on PWB.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 3 Aug 2010
Event2010 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting - United States, San Francisco, United States
Duration: 31 Jul 20104 Aug 2010
http://www2.aaahq.org/AM2010/menu.cfm

Conference

Conference2010 American Accounting Association Annual Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period31/07/104/08/10
OtherAmerican Accounting Association
Internet address

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