Motivation

Question 1

Define Motivation

Answer 1

force that initiates, directs, and helps people persist in a course of action or reach a goal

a resource allocation process by which people spend their time and energy on sets of behaviors

Question 2

Performance =

Answer 2

Effort x Ability / Situational Constraints

Question 3

Does motivation deal with performance, ability, effort, or constraints?

Answer 3

Effort - will more time, energy, intensity, etc.

Motivation increases effort, but performance still requires ability & lack of constriants

Question 4

Name a UNIVERSAL law of motivation

Answer 4

Reinforcement principle (operant conditioning principle)

Question 5

What is the Reinforcement Principle?

Answer 5

the universal law that behavior is a function of its consequences

Question 6

What are the 4 types of reinforcement?

Answer 6

Positive:
additive - adding something good
subtractive - taking away something bad

Negative:
punishment - adding something bad
extinction - taking away something good

Question 7

Why is reinforcement better for manufacturing than service settings?

Answer 7

desired output must be directly measurable

Question 8

What conditions support effective punishment?

Answer 8

immediate, consistent, right sized, closely monitored, accompanied by alternative behavior

Question 9

What is the most common mistake in applying reinforcement principle?

Answer 9

reinforcing the wrong behavior based on what is measurable over what is desired

Question 10

Should reinforcement schedules be detailed or simple?

Answer 10

As simple as possible, balance effectiveness with simplicity. Understanding is key.

Question 11

What are some difficulties associated with compensation based reinforcement?

Answer 11

creates inequity perceptions, directly defining & measuring performance, individuals’ value of money, effect on culture, competes with intrinsic motivation, scaling reward to effort

Question 12

What are the main factors of intrinsic motivation?

Answer 12

skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, feedback

Question 13

Define Goal

Answer 13

target state of the world not yet attained

Question 14

How do goals direct effort

Answer 14

by creating tension between the current and desired states

Question 15

What is the makeup of an effective goal?

Answer 15

SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, rigorous (difficult), time-bound

Question 16

Define Distributive Justice

Answer 16

sense of fair allocation of outcomes

Question 17

Define Procedural Justice

Answer 17

sense of fair process for allocating outcomes or making decisions that affect others

Question 18

How does justice affect effort?

Answer 18

Justice is expected. It does not positively motivate effort; lack of justice de-motivates and reduces effort.

Question 19

What is Equity Theory?

Answer 19

the idea that people will be motivated by their perception of equity of their own ratio of outcomes/inputs to that of others

Question 20

How do people react to perceived equity?

Answer 20

They don’t, equity is expected. People only react to perceived inequity, which is de-motivating.

Question 21

How do people react to perceived positive inequity (i.e. they are receiving better outcome/input?)

Answer 21

guilt (very temporary) –> increased input (also temporary) –> rationalization (entitlement)

Question 22

How do people react to perceived negative inequity (i.e. they are receiving worse outcome/input?)

Answer 22

anger & dissatisfaction –> attempts to normalize/achieve equity (reduced inputs, seeking increased outcomes, affecting others inputs or outcomes)

Question 23

What are 5 principles of procedural justice?

Answer 23

accurate & testable information, 
consistency across persons & time, 
built-in bias reduction mechanisms
possibility for appeal
"voice"

Question 24

Define Interactional Justice

Answer 24

quality of interpersonal treatment received from person allocating outcomes or making decisions; consistency of respect and dignity conveyed in interactions

Question 25

How can interactional justice be improved?

Answer 25

providing explanation/justification for actions
allowing questions
following up on answers
establishing mutual understanding