Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance management in the prosocial market economy: a new paradigm for economic performance and sustainability
AU - Pfister, Jan
AU - Otley, David
AU - Ahrens, Thomas
AU - Dambrin, Claire
AU - Darwin, Solomin
AU - Granlund, Markus
AU - Jack, Sarah
AU - Lassila, Erkki
AU - Millo, Yuvall
AU - Peda, Peeter
AU - Sherman, Zachary
AU - Sloan Wilson, David
PY - 2024/11/19
Y1 - 2024/11/19
N2 - PurposeThe purpose of this multi-voiced paper is to propose a prosocial paradigm for the field of performance management and management control systems. This new paradigm suggests cultivating prosocial behaviour and prosocial groups in organizations to simultaneously achieve the objectives of economic performance and sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThe authors share a common concern about the future of humanity and nature. They challenge the influential assumption of economic man from neoclassical economic theory and build on evolutionary science and the core design principles of prosocial groups to develop a prosocial paradigm.FindingsFindings are based on the premise of the prosocial paradigm that self-interested behaviour may outperform prosocial behaviour within a group but that prosocial groups outperform groups dominated by self-interest. The authors explore various dimensions of performance management from the prosocial perspective in the private and public sectors.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors call for theoretical, conceptual and empirical research that explores the prosocial paradigm. They invite any approach, including positivist, interpretive and critical research, as well as those using qualitative, quantitative and interventionist methods.Practical implicationsThis paper offers implications from the prosocial paradigm for practitioners, particularly for executives and managers, policymakers and educators.Originality/valueAdoption of the prosocial paradigm in research and practice shapes what the authors call the prosocial market economy. This is an aspired cultural evolution that functions with market competition yet systematically strengthens prosociality as a cultural norm in organizations, markets and society at large.
AB - PurposeThe purpose of this multi-voiced paper is to propose a prosocial paradigm for the field of performance management and management control systems. This new paradigm suggests cultivating prosocial behaviour and prosocial groups in organizations to simultaneously achieve the objectives of economic performance and sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThe authors share a common concern about the future of humanity and nature. They challenge the influential assumption of economic man from neoclassical economic theory and build on evolutionary science and the core design principles of prosocial groups to develop a prosocial paradigm.FindingsFindings are based on the premise of the prosocial paradigm that self-interested behaviour may outperform prosocial behaviour within a group but that prosocial groups outperform groups dominated by self-interest. The authors explore various dimensions of performance management from the prosocial perspective in the private and public sectors.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors call for theoretical, conceptual and empirical research that explores the prosocial paradigm. They invite any approach, including positivist, interpretive and critical research, as well as those using qualitative, quantitative and interventionist methods.Practical implicationsThis paper offers implications from the prosocial paradigm for practitioners, particularly for executives and managers, policymakers and educators.Originality/valueAdoption of the prosocial paradigm in research and practice shapes what the authors call the prosocial market economy. This is an aspired cultural evolution that functions with market competition yet systematically strengthens prosociality as a cultural norm in organizations, markets and society at large.
U2 - 10.1108/QRAM-02-2024-0031
DO - 10.1108/QRAM-02-2024-0031
M3 - Journal article
VL - 21
SP - 397
EP - 443
JO - Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management
JF - Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management
SN - 1176-6093
IS - 5
ER -