Title: Evaluating the missing links in the relationship between executives' compensation and firm performance

Authors: Neema Mori; Gibson Munisi

Addresses: Business School, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35046, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Norwegian Centre for Microfinance Research, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway ' Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway

Abstract: The research on the relationship between executive compensation and firm performance is extensive but has produced inconsistent results and, typically, weak explanatory power. One cause of these results is use of an incomplete theoretical framework that ignores some variables that are related to these two concepts. We explore the missing links between them. The paper contributes to scholarly and practical understanding of this important issue in the literature by extending and combining agency theory, upper echelons theory, and motivation theory perspectives. The paper develops a model that describes and explains the interactive relationship between executive managerial ability, executive compensation, strategic choices and firm performance. It puts forward the argument that executive managerial ability is related to strategic choices, and executive compensation moderates this relationship. Additionally, the paper suggests that strategic choice is an important variable that has not been explicitly accounted for in the relationship between compensation and firm performance.

Keywords: executive compensation; firm performance; managerial ability; motivation; strategic choice; agency theory; upper echelons theory; motivation theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2014.060215

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2014 Vol.12 No.3, pp.315 - 333

Published online: 16 Jun 2014 *

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