Abstract
Purpose: Previous research shows that when environmental uncertainty rises, managers often respond by adding more performance measures. This paper evaluates this strategy by examining if more variety of performance measures also leads to increased management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and improved firm performance
Design/methodology/approach: An extensive list of performance measures was compiled and used in a web survey of the 300 largest companies in Iceland.
Findings: It is confirmed that increased environmental uncertainty leads to a higher variety of performance measures in use. No link was found between the variety of performance measures, management satisfaction and firm performance. However, there is a positive link between management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and firm performance.
Research limitations/implications: The findings suggest that it is not the variety in itself that increases management satisfaction or improves performance. Other elements of the performance measurement process such as defining performance criteria and acting on performance information are more critical.
Practical implications: Managers who intend to improve performance measurement systems should concentrate on the performance measurement process rather than only on measure variety. Furthermore, they should use measures of management satisfaction with the performance measurement system as a quality indicator as well as a predictor of value created by this system.
Originality/value: Few studies have previously linked environmental uncertainty, performance measure variety and management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and firm performance. This study evaluates a specific design strategy of performance measurement systems in this context.
Design/methodology/approach: An extensive list of performance measures was compiled and used in a web survey of the 300 largest companies in Iceland.
Findings: It is confirmed that increased environmental uncertainty leads to a higher variety of performance measures in use. No link was found between the variety of performance measures, management satisfaction and firm performance. However, there is a positive link between management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and firm performance.
Research limitations/implications: The findings suggest that it is not the variety in itself that increases management satisfaction or improves performance. Other elements of the performance measurement process such as defining performance criteria and acting on performance information are more critical.
Practical implications: Managers who intend to improve performance measurement systems should concentrate on the performance measurement process rather than only on measure variety. Furthermore, they should use measures of management satisfaction with the performance measurement system as a quality indicator as well as a predictor of value created by this system.
Originality/value: Few studies have previously linked environmental uncertainty, performance measure variety and management satisfaction with the performance measurement system and firm performance. This study evaluates a specific design strategy of performance measurement systems in this context.
Original language | English |
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Publication date | 2018 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Event | The 18th European Academy of Management Conference (EURAM) 2018: Research in Action – Accelerating knowledge creation in management - Reykjavik, Iceland Duration: 19 Jun 2018 → 22 Jun 2018 http://euramonline.org/annual-conference-2018 |
Conference
Conference | The 18th European Academy of Management Conference (EURAM) 2018 |
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Country/Territory | Iceland |
City | Reykjavik |
Period | 19/06/2018 → 22/06/2018 |
Internet address |
Keywords
- Information
- Uncertainty
- Performance