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The Ombudsman: Are Top Executives Paid Enough? An Evidence-Based Review

Author

Listed:
  • Philippe Jacquart

    (EMLYON Business School, 69134 Ecully, France)

  • J. Scott Armstrong

    (The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; and Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia 5001)

Abstract

Our review of the evidence found that the notion that higher pay leads to the selection of better executives is undermined by the prevalence of poor recruiting methods. Moreover, higher pay fails to promote better performance. Instead, it undermines the intrinsic motivation of executives, inhibits their learning, leads them to ignore other stakeholders, and discourages them from considering the long-term effects of their decisions on stakeholders. Relating incentive payments to executives’ actions in an effective manner is not possible. Incentives also encourage unethical behavior. Organizations would benefit from using validated methods to hire top executives, reducing compensation, eliminating incentive plans, and strengthening stockholder governance related to the hiring and compensation of executives.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Jacquart & J. Scott Armstrong, 2013. "The Ombudsman: Are Top Executives Paid Enough? An Evidence-Based Review," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 580-589, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:43:y:2013:i:6:p:580-589
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.2013.0705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Shi & Brian L. Connelly & Robert E. Hoskisson, 2017. "External corporate governance and financial fraud: cognitive evaluation theory insights on agency theory prescriptions," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(6), pages 1268-1286, June.
    2. Derek C. Jones, 2013. "The Ombudsman: Employee Ownership as a Mechanism to Enhance Corporate Governance and Moderate Executive Pay Levels," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 599-601, December.
    3. Edward L. Deci & Richard M. Ryan, 2013. "The Ombudsman: Do CEOs’ Aspirations for Wealth Harm Stockholders?," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 593-595, December.
    4. J. Scott Armstrong & Philippe Jacquart, 2013. "The Ombudsman: Is the Evidence Sufficient to Take Action on Executive Pay? Reply to Commentators," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 602-604, December.
    5. Martijn Hendriks & Martijn Burger & Harry Commandeur, 2023. "The influence of CEO compensation on employee engagement," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 607-633, February.
    6. Christopher S. Armstrong, 2013. "The Ombudsman: A Closer Look at the Efficiency of Top Executive Pay and Incentives," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 590-592, December.
    7. Jeffrey Pfeffer, 2013. "The Ombudsman: Evidence and Executive Compensation—Like Trains Passing in the Night? An Introduction to “Are Top Executives Paid Enough?”," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 578-579, December.
    8. Robin M. Hogarth & Gueorgui I. Kolev, 2013. "The Ombudsman: The “Wicked” Environment of CEO Pay," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 596-598, December.

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