Abstract
This paper addresses the question whether status alone, as compared to a combined financial/status incentive, is strong enough to motivate team members taking part in a retail sales contest to sell more goods to customers. Using a two-phase natural field experiment, we studied the impact of a sales contest on actual sales growth in 102 discount stores. The first experimental phase included a financial/status reward and status-only condition; the second experimental phase included financial/status reward, status-only, and control conditions. Compared to the control condition, the status-only condition had a significant effect on sales volume. Store managers' leadership style, however, was found to have a moderating effect. Greater sales growth resulted in the financial/status reward condition when store managers had a transformational leadership style.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 4112-4120 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Business Research |
Volume | 69 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Research programs
- ESE - MKT