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A note on the impact of the internal organization on the accuracy of the information transmitted within the firm

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  • Eduard Alonso‐Pauli
  • Lluís Bru

Abstract

We investigate the incentives of sales managers to transmit information on demand conditions to headquarters under different organizational structures and its subsequent impact on firm performance. When headquarters determine quantities of production, sales managers' interests are aligned with that of the firm, and reliable information is transmitted. On the other hand, when the authority of decision making on quantities of production is delegated to sales managers, they prefer not to transmit reliable information; consequently, headquarters set transfer prices given poor information about demand. Due to such difference in the quality of the information available to headquarters, a centralized organizational structure frequently leads to the best performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduard Alonso‐Pauli & Lluís Bru, 2020. "A note on the impact of the internal organization on the accuracy of the information transmitted within the firm," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(6), pages 902-910, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:41:y:2020:i:6:p:902-910
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.3146
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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