OB Chapter 4-6

Question 1

What is motivation?

Answer 1

Process that accounts for an individual’s intensity, direction and persistence of effort toward reaching a goal

Question 2

What are the 3 key elements in motivation?

Answer 2

Intensity, direction, persistence

Question 3

Intensity

Answer 3

How hard a person tries

Question 4

Direction

Answer 4

Quality of effort, direction that benefits

Question 5

Persistence

Answer 5

How long a person can maintain effort

Question 6

Douglas McGregor’s Theory X

Answer 6

Negative, employees dislike work, will try to avoid it; must be coerced, controlled or threatened with punishment to achieve goals

Question 7

Theory Y

Answer 7

Positive, employees like work, creative, seek responsibility, will exercise self-direction and self-control if they are committed to the goals

Question 8

Why is the Theory X and Y not very good?

Answer 8

It fails to address the situation

Question 9

What are intrinsic motivators?

Answer 9

A person’s internal desire to do something due to things like interest, challenge and personal satisfaction

Question 10

What are extrinsic motivators?

Answer 10

Motivation that comes outside the person and include pay, bonuses and other tangible rewards; or to avoid punishment

Question 11

Theories of motivation generally fall into 2 categories:

Answer 11

Needs Theories: describe the types of needs that must be met in order to motivate individuals
Process Theories: Help us understand the actual ways in which we and others can be motivated

Question 12

Needs theories are widely criticized for not standing up to scientific review, but we should still know them because

Answer 12

1. They represent a foundation from which contemporary theories have grown
2. Practising manager still regularly use these theories and their terminology to explain employee motivations

Question 13

Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs

Answer 13

1. Physiological: Hunger, shelter
2. Safety: Security and protection from physical and emotional harm
3. Social: Affection, belongingness, acceptance and friendship
4. Esteem/Achievement: Internal esteem - Self-respect, autonomy and achievement; External esteem - status, recognition, and attention
5. Self-actualization: Growth, achieving one’s potential and self fulfillment; the drive to become what one is capable of becoming
   - as each need is satisfied, the next need becomes dominant

Question 14

Lower order needs

Answer 14

Needs that are satisfied externally: Physiological and Safety

Question 15

Higher order needs

Answer 15

Needs that are satisfied internally: Social, esteem and Self-actualization