Definitions of Motivation
Definitions of Motivation
Definitions of Motivation
Source: Adopted from Abraham H. Maslow, “A Theory of Human Motivation,” Psychology Review, 1943, Vol. 50, pp. 370-396.
Theory X & theory Y (McGregor)
Motivators
• Assumptions
– Behavior is a result of conscious goals and intentions.
– Setting goals influences the behavior of people in
organizations.
• Characteristics of Goals
– Goal difficulty
• Extent to which a goal is challenging and requires effort.
• People work harder to achieve more difficult goals.
• Goals should be difficult but attainable.
• Characteristics of Goals (cont’d)
– Goal specificity
• Clarity and precision of the goal.
• Goals vary in their ability to be
stated specifically.
– Acceptance
• The extent to which persons
accept a goal as their own.
– Commitment
• The extent to which an individual is
personally interested in reaching a goal.
The Expanded Goal-Setting Theory
of Motivation
Source: Reprinted by permission of the publisher, from Organizational Dynamics, Autumn/1979, copyright © 1979 by American Management
Association, New York. All rights reserved. (http://www.amanet.org)
IX. The Equity Theory of
Motivation
•Equity Theory
– Based on the relatively simple premise that people in
organizations want to be treated fairly.
•Equity
– The belief that we are being
treated fairly in relation to others.
•Inequity
– The belief that we are being
treated unfairly in relation to others.
Forming Equity Perceptions
Step 1
A
A person
person
evaluates
evaluates howhow he
he
or
or she
she is
is being
being Step 2
treated
treated byby the
the The
The person
person
firm.
firm. forms
forms aa
perception
perception of of
how
how aa Step 3
“comparison
“comparison The
The person
person
other”
other” is
is compares
compares hishis
being
being treated.
treated. or
or her
her own
own Step 4
circumstances
circumstances On
On the
the strength
strength
with
with those
those of
of of
of this
this feeling,
feeling,
the
the comparison
comparison the
the person
person may
may
People in organizations form other.
other. choose
choose to to
perceptions of the equity of pursue
pursue oneone or
or
more
more
their treatment through a four- alternatives.
alternatives.
step process.
The Equity Comparison Process
• Equity theory describes the equity comparison process
in terms of an outcome-to-input ratio.