Week 8: Motivation

Question 1

Which 4 effects result from motivation?

Answer 1

1. direction
   * selection of goals and tasks*
2. intensity
   * effort & energy spent*
3. persistence
   * time spent engaging in tasks*
4. behaviour
   * in the workplace*

Question 2

By which two factors is motivation influenced?

Answer 2

1. internal factors (dispositional)
2. external factors (situational)

Question 3

Historically:
In which succession did which motivation theories arise?

Answer 3

**1. drive theory: **
-1920-
some drives, needs and motives are innate, other are learnt

2. behaviouristic approach
-1930-
how environment affects people - Skinner

• *3. Person-Environment interaction**
• late 1930- Lewin

Question 4

Which three motivation models are nowadays evaluated?

Answer 4

1. Behavioral approach
   * operant conditioning*
2. Content theories
   * different kinds of needs and motives that motivates people*
3. process theories
   * how motivation operates (instead of focusing on motives)*

Question 5

Motivation theory: behavioural approach

1. premise
2. aim

Answer 5

1. behavioural modification can be achieved by altering the consequences associated with specific behaviours
2. study how environment affects motivation

Question 6

Operant conditioning:

name the four ways to alter consequences to a specific behaviour, in order to alter it

Answer 6

1. positive reinforcement
   * reward*
2. negative reinforcement
   take away aversive
   _{like stop telling, that the performance is abissmal}
3. extinction
   * ignorance*
4. punishment

Question 7

Motivation theory: content approach

1. premise
2. aim

Answer 7

1. motivation is the upshot of dispositions, needs and values
2. to identify motive that influence people

Question 8

Name three motivational theories based on the content approach

Answer 8

• Maslow 1943: Need Hierarchy Theory
• Herzberg 1950: Two-factor Theory
• McClelland: nAch, nAff, nPow

Question 9

Maslow: Need Hierarchy Theory

Name the different stages

Answer 9

Question 10

Herzberg’s two factor theory
1950

Answer 10

what makes employers happy
motivator factors = satisfiers
related to the nature of work & how challenging -> interest in work, opportunities, increased responsibility

what makes employers unhappy
hygiene factors = dissatisfiers
working conditions, pay, job security. if these factors are not right, person likely to leave the company. Yet no relation with performance

Question 11

McClelland

Answer 11

Motives are learned via socialisation processes. People can be high or low on all three motives..

Question 12

Motivation theory: process approach

Name the different models

Answer 12

1. Locke 1981: goal-setting theory
2. Adams: Equity Theory
3. Vroom 1964: Expectancy Theory

Question 13

Goal Setting Theory - Locke

Name the three determinants of goal effectiveness

+

another factor that is extremely important

Answer 13

• how specific they are
• how difficult they are (challenging yet achievable)
• goal acceptance (commitment)

+

feedback!!

Question 14

Goal setting in workplace:

in which 5 circumstances is it effective?

Answer 14

1. employee has necessary ability
2. must get feedback on the progress in goal achieving
3. rewards are given for goal attainment
4. must have management support
5. must be committed: acceptance of set goals

Question 15

Explain the Equity Theory of Adams

+

Consequences

Answer 15

people want to be treated with fairness.
output (reward) vs. input

organisational justice dimenstions:

1. distributive
2. procedural
3. interactional (interpersonal, informational)

• Consequences of perceived inequity:*
  1. reduced input
  2. increasing outcomes
  3. attitude changing
  4. changing referent jobs (change comparison group)
  5. leaving the job

Question 16

Daniel Pink (2009):
the surprising truth what actually does motivate employees

Answer 16

1. mastery experience
2. autonomy
3. purpose

Question 17

What is the contribution of Maslow’s need hierarchy?

Answer 17

• Highlights importance of understanding individuals’ changing needs/priorities over the life/ employment span
• Highlights the importance of tailoring rewards and work conditions to maintain or increase motivation

Question 18

What are the limitations of Maslows need hierarchy theory?

Answer 18

• Difficult to confirm empirically: vague construct, dynamic nature of needs
• Simultaneous emergence of several needs undermines the hierarchical principle
• Research shows that there is great intra- and inter-individual variation of needs, contingent on gender, culture and life stage

Question 19

What are the contributions of Herzberg’s two-factor theory?

Answer 19

–highlights the need to measure workers’ dissatisfaction with hygiene factors, and how satisfied they are with motivators

–highlights the importance of meaningful work, responsibility for outcomes and recognition for achievements

–these factors, comprising job enrichment, were the precursors to the job characteristics model

Question 20

Define organisational justice

Answer 20

belief about the extent to which
organisational procedures (especially
those which have an impact on
employees) are fair

Question 21

What are the limitations of Herzberg’s two-factor theory?

Answer 21

Limitations:

(1) satisfaction can be increased with both factors
(2) people differ, in what they perceive to be satisfiers / dissatisfiers

Question 22

Equity theory:

Name the organisational justice dimensions:

Answer 22

– distributive justice: focuses on how
employees respond to unfair treatment and
attempt to create fair outcomes

– procedural justice: focuses on how
employees perceive that the procedures used
to reach a decision are adequate

– interactional justice: focuses on whether
employees feel they are treated with respect
(interpersonal justice), and receive adequate
information regarding organisational
procedures (informational justice)

Question 23

Case Study Kellogs, Apple, Harry

Question 24

What are the advantages and issues of flex time?

Answer 24

Benefits include:
• Employees prefer this arrangement
• Increased positive work attitudes
• Minimal system abuse
• Reduced absenteeism and lateness

Issues include:
• Limited to office environments
• Inadequate supervisor coverage

Question 25

What are the adavantages and issues of compressed work week?

Answer 25

Benefits include:
• Employees like this system

Issues include:
• No lasting change in productivity
• Increase in fatigue
• May increase absenteeism OR no effect is
observed

Question 26

What are the advantages and issues of Job sharing?

Answer 26

:= two part-time workers divide the work of a full-time job

Benefits include:
• Attract capable employees who may not be
interested in full-time work

Issues include:
• Communication is essential between job share workers & their colleagues
• Performance appraisal – who and how do you
appraise performance?

Question 27

What are your thoughts on money as a motivator?

Answer 27

M.I.T research findings
– Money incentivizes on simple tasks, but may lead to a
reduction in performance on more complex tasks
– Need to have enough money (remuneration) so as to not
have to think about it

Question 28

Daniel Pinks surprising truth which 3 factors enhance motivation?

Answer 28

**Daniel Pink (2009) ** 3 factors that enhance motivation
& performance in the workplace:
– Autonomy
– Mastery
– Purpose

Similar to Lavoie’s (2007) work within educational contexts