The Distribution of Rewards and Resources in Groups and Organizations

This chapter presents a framework for predicting the behavior of persons who occupy the allocator's role. The framework takes account of other persons insofar as they influence the allocator's decisions about rewards and resources. Persons of higher rank, who are the allocator's superiors, may strongly influence his or her decisions, and so may the recipients who are subordinate to him or her. In addition, other parties who observe the allocator may influence his or her decisions. Allocation decisions are instrumental acts through which the allocator tries to achieve various goals. The chapter takes account of a wide range of goals and motives that affect his or her decisions. In any allocation situation there is considerable potential for conflict between the allocator and recipients, or between the recipients themselves.