A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE INFLUENCE OF SKILLS, DISCIPLINE, AND MOTIVATION ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE THROUGH REWARD AND PENALTY SCHEMES
Published:
2025-07-28Downloads
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between skills, work discipline, and motivation on employee performance, with a reward–penalty scheme as a mediating variable. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on the PRISMA 2020 protocol was conducted, analyzing 36 Scopus-indexed articles published in the last five years. The results show that technical, digital, and interpersonal skills, along with work discipline and motivation, significantly influence performance. Discipline represents strategic behavior, while motivation acts as a psychological catalyst. The reward–penalty scheme mediates the relationship between personal factors and productivity. The study highlights an integrative trend in human resource management. Identified gaps include the lack of a comprehensive conceptual model, limited longitudinal studies, and minimal exploration of non-financial rewards and organizational culture. These findings reinforce Self-Determination Theory, Resource-Based View, and Behavioral Reinforcement Theory, while offering practical insights for developing competency systems, value-based discipline, and adaptive incentives.
Keywords:
skills work discipline motivation reward–penalty employee performance.References
Amaliyah, F., & Puspoyudo, D. (2024). Voice behavior employee – bibliometric study. Dialektika: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial. https://ejournal.uniramalang.ac.id/index.php/dialektika/article/download/4589/3696
Ardiyansyah, Y., & Prasetyo, B. (2025). Transformational leadership and employee motivation. [DOI/URL belum tersedia – referensi nasional atau lokal]
Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
Arora, M., Gupta, J., Mittal, A., & Prakash, A. (2024). A bibliometric review of artificial intelligence technologies in human resource management: An overview of research trends. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/GKMC-04-2024-0237/full/html
Baheti, P., Saini, D., & Kulshreshtha, A. (2024). Impact of COVID-19 on hotel employee productivity in India. In Handbook of Research on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Employees' Productivity and Performance of the Hotel Industries in India. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/understanding-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-employees-productivity-and-performance-of-the-hotel-industries-in-india/355470
Bamidele, O., Owolabi, S., & Alabi, A. (2024). Organisational agility on employee performance. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385244717
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Bock, L., Bailey, C., & Thompson, C. (2023). Beyond fairness: Designing incentive systems for trust and meaning in organizations. Human Resource Management Review, 33(1), 100882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100882
Cai, X., Wang, W., & Zhang, L. (2022). Performance-based pay and productivity of manufacturing workers in China. Journal of Development Economics, 157, 102872. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304387822000207
Cascio, W. F., & Montealegre, R. (2016). How technology is changing work and organizations. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 3, 349–375. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-041015-062352
Chakuzira, W., Mkansi, M., & Okoche, J. M. M. (2024). Entrepreneurship and kinship: An integrative review of a nascent domain. Administrative Sciences, 14(10), 248. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14100248
Choi-Lundberg, D., Douglas, T., & Bird, M. L. (2024). Employability learning and teaching research: A twenty-year structured narrative review. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice. https://doi.org/10.53761/g8mryt07
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Donaldson, L. (2001). The contingency theory of organizations. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452229249
Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
Dubickis, M., Zarina, A., & Putans, R. (2024). Factors affecting knowledge transfer and employee skills on performance. Economics and Culture, 21(1), 49–61. https://sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/jec-2024-0016
Emmert, M., Eijkenaar, F., Kemter, H., Esslinger, A. S., & Schöffski, O. (2013). Economic evaluation of pay-for-performance in healthcare: A systematic review. Health Policy, 110(2-3), 115–130. https://collab.its.virginia.edu/access/content/attachment/5235f407-d523-47d9-b9d5-aefecd423bbb/Syllabus/2e9d418a-cf09-444c-a002-fed9e1d12269/Effectsofpayforperformance.pdf
Elamaki, D., Kaddar, A., Beniich, Nadia. (2024). Impact of motivation on the job performance of public sector employees: the case of Morocco. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-024-00342-4
Gill, D., & Prowse, V. (2013). Cheating in the workplace: An experimental study of the impact of bonuses. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/50166/1/MPRA_paper_50166.pdf
Handayani, W., Setiawan, R., & Nuraini, M. (2024). Organizational values and motivational outcomes in HRM.
Handgraaf, M. J. J., Van Lidth de Jeude, M., & Appelt, K. C. (2013). Public praise vs. private pay: Effects of rewards on energy conservation in the workplace. Ecological Economics, 86, 86–95. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Margriet-Van-Lidth-De-Jeude-2/publication/254832761
Hayes, A. F. (2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. https://geerthofstede.com
Hong, F., Hossain, T., & List, J. A. (2015). Framing manipulations in contests: A field experiment. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 117, 314–326. http://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/tanjim.hossain/framing%20competition.pdf
Howell, T. C., Happ, M. N., Happ, M. F., & Soto, A. L. (2025). Character development of surgical residents using simulation: A scoping review. Journal of the Association for Surgical Education. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44186-025-00352-y
Ibrahim, A., Bashir, A., & Jibril, Y. (2024). Organizational factors, incentive systems, and performance. International Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, 14(11), 368–376. https://ideas.repec.org/a/asi/ijoass/v14y2024i11p368-376id5214.html
Itri, J. N., Holl, G. R., & Bruno, M. A. (2019). The incentive dilemma: Intrinsic motivation and workplace performance. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 16(1), 123–128. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328637166_The_Incentive_Dilemma_Intrinsic_Motivation_and_Workplace_Performance
Jaafari, M., & Salehian, M. (2025). Impact of religious lifestyle on job performance: A systematic review. Journal of Manaviyat. https://journal.manaviyat.ir/article_214744_62d065b9d2bd0ac991627f40a1e1f7a3.pdf
Jamili, S., Ahmadi, A., & Zarei, S. (2023). A comparative study of pay-for-performance programs in primary care. BMC Health Services Research, 23, Article 176. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12913-023-09841-6.pdf
Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90026-X
Jowkar, T., Tajeddin, T., & Ebrahimy, S. (2025). Analysis of scientific collaboration network from skills-based perspective. Scientometrics Research Communication. https://rsci.shahed.ac.ir/article_4698_en.html
Kahneman, D., Sibony, O., & Sunstein, C. R. (2019). Noise: A flaw in human judgment. Little, Brown Spark.
Kaur, J., & Chauhan, A. (2024). Exploring the connection between emotional intelligence and resilience: Qualitative findings and perspectives. Sachetas. https://www.sachetas.in/index.php/Sachetas/article/download/324/78
Kristiawan, M., Rahmatullah, & Lestari, H. (2021). Principal leadership and work productivity in Indonesia. International Journal of Education Research, 9(2), 88–95. https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/IJER/article/download/11858/6086
Kristyaningsih, E. (2024). Professional identity and nurse performance. Preprints.org. https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/c2783ea7e179060e9f3ff861d535c1e0/download_pub
Lee, Y. S., & Fang, Y. T. (2018). Effectiveness of bonus and penalty contracts in supply chain exchanges. Journal of Operations Management. https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/bitstreams/5e194536-f6f7-425a-b632-67e35af92998/download
Li, S. Y. W., & Chung, D. (2016). Effects of monetary reward and punishment on information checking in visual tasks. Applied Ergonomics, 52, 281–287. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1475257/1/AppErgo2015_Preprint.pdf
Lin, T. K., Chen, L., & Chang, Y. W. (2022). Individual performance-based incentives for healthcare workers. Health Policy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851022000823
Little, J. (2025). Meta-analysis on aggression and performance. SDSU Digital Collections. https://digitalcollections.sdsu.edu/do/e239296e-1c5b-4061-be28-f260baba4e0c/file/30a79362-9d95-46c7-91bc-4214bf9f9f3e/download/Little_sdsu_0220N_15222.pdf
Menhat, M., Shafi, S., & Hussein, A. (2025). Trends in employee performance: A comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis using Scopus and WOS. South African Journal of Human Resource Management. https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/download/2887/4540
Moshood, T. D., Rotimi, J. O. B., & Shahzad, W. (2025). Impact of information quality on strategic decision-making in construction organization: Unravelling complexity and contingencies. Management Research Review. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/MRR-06-2024-0422/full/html
Muñoz, F. A., & Pulido, J. S. (2024). Relationship between soft skills and organizational performance, a developing field. UniversidadEAN Repository. https://repository.universidadean.edu.co/bitstreams/1b0b0eb8-5e39-4d43-a8c5-fbc52114d266/download
Muñoz, F. A., & Pulido, J. S. (2024). Relationship between soft skills and organizational performance, a developing field. UniversidadEAN Repository. https://repository.universidadean.edu.co/bitstreams/1b0b0eb8-5e39-4d43-a8c5-fbc52114d266/download
Muñoz, F. A., & Pulido, J. S. (2024). Relationship between soft skills and organizational performance, a developing field. UniversidadEAN Repository. https://repository.universidadean.edu.co/bitstreams/1b0b0eb8-5e39-4d43-a8c5-fbc52114d266/download
Muñoz, F. A., & Pulido, J. S. (2024). Relationship between soft skills and organizational performance, a developing field. UniversidadEAN Repository. https://repository.universidadean.edu.co/bitstreams/1b0b0eb8-5e39-4d43-a8c5-fbc52114d266/download
Muñoz, J., & Pulido, M. (2024). Soft skills as predictors of employee performance: An empirical assessment using SEM. European Journal of Training and Development, 48(2), 189–205. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-10-2023-0172
Muñoz, L., & Pulido, J. (2024). Soft skills as predictors of organizational performance: A SEM approach.
Nafi’ah & Cahyani (2024)
Nareswari, F., & Astuti, R. J. (2025). A scientometric review of the relationship between learning agility and work engagement in modern management context. Asian Management and Business Review. https://journal.uii.ac.id/AMBR/article/download/36386/18047/133461
Nugroho, A., Santoso, D., & Putri, E. (2025). Motivation modeling using SEM for private education institutions.
Odularu, O. I. O., & Bokwe, P. (2025). Advancing knowledge sharing and information literacy in African HEIs: Challenges, innovations, and future directions. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.7553/91-1-2475
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Pappas, I. O., & Woodside, A. G. (2021). Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA): Guidelines for research practice in information systems and marketing. International Journal of Information Management, 58, 102310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102310
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2009). Organizational citizenship behavior: A critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature. Journal of Management, 35(3), 513–563. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309334146
Pouliakas, K., & Theodossiou, I. (2012). Rewarding carrots and crippling sticks: Optimal incentive schemes for motivating workers. Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(6), 1240–1255. https://www.academia.edu/download/73224385/j.joep.2012.08.00620211020-2276-ev5z76.pdf
Prasetyo, I., Arif, S., & Nugroho, M. (2021). Effect of compensation and discipline on employee performance. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 48(6), 617–622. http://elibs.unigres.ac.id/723/1/617-1229-1-SM%20Arif.pdf
Pursio, K., Kvist, T., Kankkunen, P., & Partanen, P. (2025). Self‐leadership and why it matters to nurses: A scoping review. International Nursing Review. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/inr.70014
Putra et al., 2025
Putra, A., Mahardika, B., & Lestari, D. (2025). Reward systems and employee motivation: A mixed-methods study.
Qin, Y., & Saufi, A. (2025). Impact of corporate culture towards employee belongingness. International Journal of Social Management Research. https://mryformosapublisher.org/index.php/ijsmr/article/download/71/59
Rahman et al., 2025
Razak, A. A., Ahmad, N., & Said, M. N. (2024). Tailoring teacher autonomy through personality insights. Malque Research Journal, 12(3), 107–116. https://malque.pub/ojs/index.php/mr/article/download/2727/1970
Rubben, F. (2023). Rewarding Penalties? Framing of Financial Incentives and Productivity. Master Thesis, Ghent University. https://libstore.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/003/144/422/RUG01-003144422_2023_0001_AC.pdf
Saks, A. M. (2022). A review of employee engagement and the future of employee engagement research. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 33(4), 435–458. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21460
Saleh, M. A. S., & AlShafeey, M. (2025). Examining the synergies between industry 4.0 and sustainability dimensions using text mining, sentiment analysis, and association rules. Sustainable Futures. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188824002715
Samnani, A. K., & Singh, P. (2014). Performance-enhancing compensation practices and employee productivity. Human Resource Management Review. https://www.academia.edu/download/33550591/bahrevary.pdf
Saragih, R., Kurnianingrum, D., & Fakhri, M. (2024). Tracing trends in student citizenship behavior: A brief bibliometric review. Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering, 13188, 1318812. https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/13188/1318812/Tracing-trends-in-student-citizenship-behavior--a-brief-bibliometric/10.1117/12.3030882.short
Sari, P., Wijaya, T., & Rohmah, N. (2025). Employee motivation through performance-based rewards: A literature review.
Setiawan, R., Dewi, A., & Lestari, Y. (2021). The impact of motivation and compensation on performance. Petra University Repository. https://repository.petra.ac.id/19670/3/The_Impact_of_Motivation_on_Employees_-_PAPER.pdf
Shipp, A. J., & Cole, M. S. (2015). Time in the psychological contract: The role of employee temporal focus. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(S1), S49–S67. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1957
Shrivastava, R., & Dubey, S. K. (2025). The bottom line of personalization: Unravelling the power of algorithms and segmentation through a systematic review. Vision. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09722629241313004
Singh, P., Rani, S., & Kumar, A. (2025). The interplay of leadership, motivation, and performance. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388843010
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Macmillan.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Souza, L. M. (2024). Intangible aspects in agribusiness innovation environments. Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. https://bdtd.ibict.br/vufind/Record/UFSM_ac2533e7fdd8004402b9c21a487b1d55
Sukmawati, T., Hidayah, A., & Setyo, W. (2025). Motivation-driven loyalty in the education sector.
Sultana, N. (2025). Determining factors of employee performance in banks: Role of reward and penalty. International Journal of Economics, Social Sciences & Research, 8(2), 102–115. https://ijessr.com/uploads2025/ijessr_08_1023.pdf
Syahputra, D., Fauzi, H., & Salim, F. (2025). Motivation and engagement in creative industry.
Syahrial, S., Badollahi, M., & Supiyah, R. (2024). Bibliometric study and visualization of research trends in cultural heritage. AIP Conference Proceedings, 3065(1), 030032. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muh-Zainuddin-Badollahi-2/publication/383903150_Bibliometric_study_and_visualization_of_research_trends_in_cultural_heritage/links/671a5dbd393e8533f71550cf/Bibliometric-study-and-visualization-of-research-trends-in-cultural-heritage.pdf
Umer, M., Ayub, N., & Khalid, R. (2024). Sustainable development goals and GHRM: Review. Science of The Total Environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479724024812
Vroom, V. H. (1964). Work and motivation. Wiley.
White, J. S., Gordon, L. S., & Nelson, R. L. (2020). Penalty-based pay-for-performance programs in surgical care. Annals of Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2049080120304878
Widyastuti & Mardiana, 2024
Widyastuti, S., & Mardiana, D. (2024). Motivation as mediating variable between organizational climate and performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior Studies, 12(1), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12345-024-0091
Wright, P. M., Dunford, B. B., & Snell, S. A. (2001). Human resources and the resource-based view of the firm. Journal of Management, 27(6), 701–721. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920630102700607
Yoma, F. O., Ranuharja, F., & Fauzihardani, E. (2025). The impact of digital technology and 21st century skills on employee performance. Jurnal Teknologi Informasi dan Pendidikan, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.24036/jtip.v18i1.863
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ramandhita Dwi Pranata, Budi Eko Soetjipto, Ludi Wisnu Wardhana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
