Research Directions

Abstract

The research that can be done on compensation clearly exceeds the amount that has been and is likely to be done. Dramatic changes in the nature of work organizations and the business environment have created numerous important new reward system research topics that warrant attention. For example, the increased globalization of corporations, the increased use of information technology, and the increased use of contingent workers all raise literally hundreds of interesting researchable questions about the use of and consequences of different pay and reward practices. The articles in this volume raise many critically important questions about both the determinants of pay practices and the consequences of pay practices. Interestingly, in the articles, there is a greater focus on the determinants of pay practices than on their consequences. This is an orientation that is not present in much of the research on compensation. It tends to be more concerned with the consequences of different pay practices rather than on their determinants. Given the enormous number of researchable questions concerning pay in organizations, it is important to ask what issues should be front and center in a research agenda on pay. In short, what do we really need to know about pay systems? Before I answer this question, I need to identify one of my major biases. I believe research should focus on topics where the results are likely to be both theoretically and practically important. Given this bias, I am inclined to identify five areas where research on pay in organizations is particularly likely to yield useful results.