By: Adam Johnston, Marketing Coordinator, Sales Resource Group

We recently posted a blog posing the question, "Who Really Owns Sales Compensation?" We followed this article with an informal poll and the results were slightly predictable, however still very interesting. Of 35 responses, 62% indicated that Sales is responsible for the compensation program. Also, more respondents noted that Human Resources(15%) should own the sales comp program than Finance(6%).

What I found most interesting, however, was the number of respondents that believed there should be a shared responsibility for the sales compensation program. In our poll, 18% of those who participated believe there should be a shared responsibility between all functional departments (Sales, HR, Finance and IT).

While not completely scientific, it was still interesting to see the overwhelming belief that Sales should hold responsibility for the compensation program. I think the strong support for shared responsibility, in our poll, hints at the belief that while Sales should be held accountable for the compensation program, each department should have a hand in it's development and administration.