Beyond Incentives: Linking Extrinsic Rewards, Socio-Technical Systems, and Employee Satisfaction in Context

The rise of remote and hybrid work following the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the need to understand how organizational incentives influence employee satisfaction. This study develops and tests an integrated model linking extrinsic rewards, socio-technical systems acceptance, and employee satisfaction. Grounded in expectancy theory, reinforcement theory, and socio-technical systems theory, the model also examines the moderating effects of work arrangements, job functions, and tenure. Data collected from 362 knowledge workers were analyzed using PLS-SEM, regression, and artificial neural networks. Results show that extrinsic rewards enhance satisfaction indirectly by promoting acceptance of work-related technologies. This indirect effect is stronger for remote workers, core functional roles, and longer-tenured employees. The study extends motivation theory by conceptualizing technology use as a motivational mechanism and offers practical insights into reward system design for diverse work settings in digitally mediated environments.