We recognize that when it comes to management controls, one size does not fit all. What feels overly coercive to one employee may provide just the right level of guidance to another. Similarly, peer pressure that motivates one person may have little to no effect on someone else. In this research area, we investigate how individual personality traits, values, and beliefs shape the effectiveness of management controls—and how tailored approaches can support both individual motivation and organizational success.

Exemplary research questions include:

• How personality traits such as conscientiousness or openness influence responses to budget pressure
• The role of individual value orientations in shaping reactions to incentive schemes
• Matching management control systems to employee autonomy needs
• The effects of belief systems and perceived fairness on management control acceptance and resistance
• Individual-level predictors of proactive behavior in different management control environments