Fostering employee autonomy through rewards: a self-determination theory perspective

Muhammad Zeshan, Shahid Rasool, Christian Di Prima and Alberto Ferraris

Management Research Review, 2024, vol. 48, issue 1, 78-94

Abstract: Purpose - This paper aims to explain and determine the effect of rewards on employees’ autonomy by investigating the mediating effect of enabling controls on their relationship. Design/methodology/approach - A three-wave survey strategy has been used to collect data from the alumni of a French business school. Structural equation modelling has been used for measures validating and hypotheses testing. Findings - The study reveals a positive relationship between rewards and autonomy, mediated by enabling controls. Practical implications - The study guides the process of administrating rewards to employees in a way that maximizes their autonomy, highlighting the crucial role of supervisors through enabling controls. Originality/value - The study strives to create consensus regarding the long-existing debate on the effect of rewards on employees’ autonomy with the help of organizational theory literature. By considering the role of enabling controls, it provides a unique, cohesive framework to illustrate the intertwined relationship between the constructs.

Keywords: Rewards; Self-determination theory; Autonomy; Enabling control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:mrrpps:mrr-11-2023-0835

DOI: 10.1108/MRR-11-2023-0835

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