The Effect of Past Performance and Task Type on Managers’ Target Setting Decisions: An Experimental Investigation

Arnold, Markus C.; Artz, Martin; Tafkov, Ivo D. (2022). The Effect of Past Performance and Task Type on Managers’ Target Setting Decisions: An Experimental Investigation. The Accounting Review, 97(7), pp. 1-22. American Accounting Association 10.2308/TAR-2021-0103

Full text not available from this repository.

We investigate how performance-to-target (exceeding versus missing prior target) and task type (ability-driven versus effort-driven) affect managers’ target-setting decisions in a setting where a manager sets targets for multiple employees. To do so, we use an experiment that involves executives, who average more than 16 years of work experience. We predict and find stronger target adjustments when prior targets are exceeded than when they are missed, especially when tasks are ability-driven. We also predict and find targets are differentiated more between employees within a firm when tasks are ability-driven rather than effort-driven, but this effect is attenuated when prior targets are missed. As prior empirical findings are inconclusive in this area of research, we contribute to the literature by providing controlled experimental evidence about the asymmetric nature of target adjustments. Additionally, we identify an important factor affecting managers’ target-setting decisions—task type— that has largely been neglected in prior work.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute for Accounting and Controlling > Managerial Accounting
03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute for Accounting and Controlling

UniBE Contributor:

Arnold, Markus Christopher

Subjects:

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 330 Economics

ISSN:

1558-7967

Publisher:

American Accounting Association

Language:

English

Submitter:

Michelle Buri

Date Deposited:

27 May 2024 09:55

Last Modified:

27 May 2024 09:56

Publisher DOI:

10.2308/TAR-2021-0103

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/197113

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback