Ch. 7 - Motivation

Question 1

What theories summarize the key factors that foster high motivation?

Answer 1

-Expectancy Theory
-Goal Setting Theory
-Equity Theory
-Psychological Empowerment

Question 2

Motivation

Answer 2

A set of energetic forces that originate within and outside an employee that initiates work-related effort and determines its direction, intensity, and persistence

Question 3

Self-efficacy

Answer 3

The belief that a person has the capabilities needed to perform the behaviours required on some task

Question 4

What are the sources of self-efficacy?

Answer 4

-Past accomplishments
-Vicarious experiences
-Verbal persuasion
-Emotional cues

Question 5

Instrumentality

Answer 5

The belief that successful performance will result in certain outcomes.

Question 6

What are some factors that can hinder instrumentality?

Answer 6

-Inadequate budget/resources to provide outcomes (regardless of performance)
-Use of policies that reward things other than performance (eg. attendance, seniority)
-Time delays in rewarding good performance

Question 7

Valence

Answer 7

The anticipated value of outcomes (can be positive/negative). Some outcomes may even provide zero value.

Question 8

Meaning of money

Answer 8

-Economic Value (obviously!)
-Achievement
-Respect
-Freedom

Question 9

According to expectancy theory, will employees be motivated if they don’t think better performance will lead to better outcomes (no instrumentality)?

Answer 9

No. If instrumentality is zero, motivation is also zero. This is also true for expectancy & valence.

Question 10

What are the common needs employees need fulfilled to be motivated?

Answer 10

-Physiological (Existence)
-Relatedness
-Control
-Esteem
-Self-Actualization (Meaning)

Question 11

Goal Setting Theory

Answer 11

Motivation is fostered when employees are given specific and difficult goals.

Question 12

What task difficulty fosters the highest motivation?

Answer 12

Difficult, but not impossible

Question 13

Equity Theory

Answer 13

Motivation is maximized when an employee’s ratio of outcomes to inputs matches those of someone with similar responsibilities. This, motivation depends on outcomes received by other employees.

Question 14

What are some possible employee responses when they feel they are under-rewarded relative to their colleagues?

Answer 14

-Increase their pay by talking to their boss or stealing from the company
-Lower productivity by lowering intensity or persistence of effort (more common)

Question 15

What are some possible employee responses when they notice that they are over-rewarded relative to their colleagues?

Answer 15

-Lower their goals
-Increase productivity through more high quality work or through some “cognitive distortion”

Question 16

What is the relationship between Motivation and Job Performance

Answer 16

Strong positive correlation

Question 17

What is the relationship between Motivation and Organizational Commitment?

Answer 17

Moderate positive correlation

Question 18

Psychological Empowerment

Answer 18

An intrinsic form of motivation derived from the belief that one’s work tasks are contributing to some larger purpose.

Question 19

What beliefs help foster psychological empowerment?

Answer 19

-Meaningfulness
-Self-Determination
-Competence
-Impact

Question 20

Expectancy Theory

Answer 20

Motivation is fostered when the employee believes in 3 things:
-Expectancy (effort -> performance)
-Instrumentality (performance -> outcomes)
-Valence (outcomes have value)

Question 21

Cognitive Distortion

Answer 21

A re-evaluation of the inputs an employee brings to a job

Question 22

Extrinsic Motivation

Answer 22

Desire to put forth work effort due to some contingency that depends on task performance (eg. money, grades, promotion)

Question 23

Intrinsic Motivation

Answer 23

Desire to put forth work effort due to the sense that task performance serves as its own reward

Question 24

What are the commonly used compensation plan elements?

Answer 24

-Piece-rate pay
-Merit pay
-Lump-sum bonuses
-Recognition awards
-Gain sharing
-Profit sharing

Question 25

What is the most commonly used compensation plan?

Answer 25

Merit pay (used in ~90% of organizations)