Participatory Management, Goal Ambiguity, and Gaming Behaviors in Performance Management: Evidence from Township Government Cadres in Mainland China

Abstract

Gaming behaviors are challenges to governments’ performance measurement systems. This paper presents a theory of the ways in which participatory management and goal ambiguity shape gaming behaviors in performance management. Using survey data from China, this study empirically shows that in high-incentive performance measurement systems, township government cadres’ participation in goal-setting has a significant positive effect on their gaming behaviors; cadres’ perceived goal ambiguity has a significant negative effect on their gaming behaviors; and participatory management affects gaming behaviors through goal ambiguity. This study’s findings reveal that in the context of high pressure and intense competition, gaining more useful information from participation in goal-setting and developing a deeper understanding of the evaluative goals requested by superiors may allow township government cadres to identify loopholes in performance measurement systems and seize opportunities for gaming. These findings imply that a comprehensive management strategy should be used to limit gaming behaviors.

Keywords:

• gaming behavior
• goal ambiguity
• participatory management
• performance measurement

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for helpful comments and constructive suggestions from anonymous reviewers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Key Philosophy and Social Science Research Project of Chinese Ministry of Education under Grant number [17JZD025]; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant number [71573176].

Notes on contributors

Zhangli Liu

Zhangli Liu is a Ph.D Candidate at School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. Her research focuses on performance management and environmental governance.

Yuqian Yang

Yuqian Yang is a senior economist at the Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization, Ministry of Natural Resources, China. His research focuses on performance management.

Jiannan Wu

Jiannan Wu is a distinguished professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. He serves as Executive Vice Director of the China Institute for Urban Governance and Director of Center for Reform, Innovation and Governance at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research focuses on performance management, innovation, and urban governance.