Motivation

Question 1

Torrington & Hall

Answer 1

1991: work design - motivation - satisfaction and performance
(Conclusion that arrows between concepts are multidirectional and not all there all the time)

Question 2

Kerr

Answer 2

1995: too often the types of behaviour rewarded are those which the rewarder is trying to discourage, while the behaviour desired is not being rewarded at all

Question 3

What do CONTENT theories describe?

Answer 3

What motivates people

Question 4

Maslow

Answer 4

1943: hierarchy of needs, physiological to self-actualisation

Question 5

Herzberg

Answer 5

1968: compressed Maslow into intrinsic motivators and extrinsic hygiene factors

Question 6

Alderfer

Answer 6

1969: condensed Maslow into ERG (existence, relatedness, growth); realised that multiple levels can be achieved at the same time and that different people place different weights on each level

Question 7

McClelland

Answer 7

1988: Three needs theory - achievement, power, affiliation; everyone has the needs, some have more of one than another

Question 8

Name five problems with the content theories of motivation?

Answer 8

1) Assumes everyone is the same, and is motivated by the same things in the same ways
2) Assumes that motivation is enough to improve performance
3) Assumes people work individually, rather than in teams
4) Do you really have to fulfil each level in turn?
5) Assumes organisational history/culture are exogenous

Question 9

What do PROCESS theories describe?

Answer 9

How motivation occurs (and leads to performance and satisfaction)

Question 10

Vroom

Answer 10

1964: Expectancy theory - effort, performance, reward; expectancy, instrumentality, valence

Question 11

Porter & Lawler

Answer 11

1968: furthered Vroom, saying that the theory is mediated by individual perception of task and ability

Question 12

Adams

Answer 12

1965: Equity theory - motivation is mediated by perceived fairness - comparison with peers. Distributional and procedural justice.

Question 13

Locke

Answer 13

1968: Goal setting theory - the setting of specific targets is critical to induce effort to perform, with feedback to track goal achievement - not enough just to feel satisfied/motivated, we have a need to monitor progress

Question 14

Kemp et al.

Answer 14

1980: the attention to motivation led to new types of work design - complexity; autonomy; job rotation, enlargement and enrichment

Question 15

Name three problems with the process theories of motivation?

Answer 15

1) Development of fads in work design
2) A never-ending process - no job is ever perfectly designed for each individual’s tastes
3) Everything is mediated by context - e.g. culture, certainty