Theories of Motivation

Question 1

Five stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Answer 1

1. Physiological
2. Safety
3. Social
4. Esteem
5. Self-actualization

Question 2

Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory is based on what two factors?

Answer 2

1. Hygiene (Context - which, when lacking, leads to dissatisfaction)
2. Motivators (Content - which leads to satisfaction)

Question 3

Herzberg’s Two-Factor theory suggests______ to improve job satisfaction.

Answer 3

Job Enrichment (vertical loading) - good for young, educated and driven.

Job Enlargement (horizontal loading) is likely to aliviate boredom, but not increase satisfaction

Question 4

The Job Characteristic Model holds that jobs vary with these five characteristics:

Answer 4

1. Skill variety (meaningful)
2. Task identity (meaningful)
3. Task significance (meaningful)
4. Autonomy (responsibility)
5. Feedback (knowledge of results)

Question 5

Equity Theory attributes a worker’s motivated to…

Answer 5

Social comparisons, comparing one’s input/output to that of others doing similar jobs. When equal, workers experience fairness.

Question 6

The two types of worker’s inequity, based on equity theory are:

Answer 6

1. Overpayment - when a worker perceives their input/output ratio as be less than others’ motivating them to work harder.
2. Underpayment - when a work perceives their ratio to be greater than others (more work for less pay), leading to decrease in work output/quality or increase in pay.

Question 7

Vroom’s Expectancy Theory (AKA VIE Theory) is based on what three factors?

Answer 7

Expectancy - that efforts will lead to success

Instrumentality - that successful performance will result in specific outcomes

Valence - that the outcomes will be of value

Question 8

Goal-Setting theory is based on the assumption that the most important contributor to a worker’s motivation is a workers _______ and _______ to those goals.

Answer 8

Acceptance, commitment

Question 9

According to Goal-Setting theory, what three factors increase acceptance and commitment to goals?

Answer 9

1. the goals are specific
2. the goals are moderately difficult
3. workers are given immediate feedback

Question 10

Research about Goal-Setting theory says what three things?

Answer 10

1. Workers’ participation in goal setting isn’t needed (unless they have low-self esteem OR are high achievers)
2. Worker-set goals tend to be more difficult than manager-set goals
3. Group goals lead to better performance