The Expectancy Theory of Motivation

Summary

The video discusses the process-based perspective of motivation, focusing on how motivation occurs rather than identifying specific motivators like pay or recognition. It highlights expectancy theory, which suggests people are motivated by the desire for an outcome and the perceived likelihood of achieving it. Key components include effort, performance, and outcomes, with the theory emphasizing the link between these elements. Despite its complexity and challenges in practical application, the theory offers insights into how individuals choose behaviors based on expected rewards and personal values.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Process-based perspectives focus on how motivation occurs rather than identifying specific stimuli like pay or recognition.
• 🤔 These perspectives examine why people choose certain behaviors to meet their needs and how they evaluate satisfaction after achieving goals.
• 📊 Expectancy theory suggests that motivation is based on how much someone desires something and their perception of the likelihood of obtaining it.
• 🏆 Expectancy theory encompasses more motivational factors compared to equity theory and has evolved in scope and complexity.
• 💡 Victor Vroom is credited with applying expectancy theory to the workplace, focusing on how individuals choose among different behavioral options.
• 🚀 The basic premise of expectancy theory is that motivation depends on the desire for a goal and the perceived likelihood of achieving it.
• 🔗 The theory emphasizes three key components: effort, performance, and outcomes, with links between them known as expectancies, instrumentalities, and valences.
• 📈 Effort-to-performance expectancy reflects a person's belief that effort will lead to successful performance.
• 💼 Performance-to-outcome instrumentality refers to the perception that performance will lead to specific outcomes.
• ⚖️ Valence represents the value or attractiveness of an outcome, which can be positive (e.g., pay raises) or negative (e.g., stress).

Q & A

What is the main focus of process-based perspectives on motivation?

Process-based perspectives focus on how motivation occurs, emphasizing why people choose certain behavioral options to satisfy their needs and how they evaluate their satisfaction after achieving their goals.

What does expectancy theory suggest about motivation?

Expectancy theory suggests that people are motivated by how much they want something and the likelihood they perceive of getting it.

Who is credited with first applying expectancy theory to the workplace?

Victor Vroom is credited with first applying expectancy theory to the workplace.

What are the general components of the expectancy model?

The general components of the expectancy model include effort (the result of motivated behavior), performance, and outcomes.

What is the definition of 'effort to performance expectancy' in the expectancy theory?

Effort to performance expectancy refers to a person's perception of the probability that effort will lead to successful performance.

How does 'performance to outcome instrumentality' work in expectancy theory?

Performance to outcome instrumentality is a person's perception of the probability that successful performance will lead to specific outcomes.

What is meant by 'valence' in the context of expectancy theory?

Valence refers to the relative attractiveness or unattractiveness of an outcome to a person, representing how much value an individual places on a particular outcome.

What are the three conditions that must be met for motivated behavior to occur according to expectancy theory?

The three conditions are: 1) the effort to performance expectancy must be above zero, 2) the performance to outcome instrumentalities must be above zero, and 3) the sum of all the valences for potential outcomes must be positive.

Why has expectancy theory been difficult for researchers to test?

Expectancy theory has been difficult to test due to the complexity of measuring various paths in the model and the lack of validity in some measures. Additionally, the procedures for investigating relationships among variables have been less scientific than desired.

Why is expectancy theory challenging to apply in the workplace?

Expectancy theory is challenging to apply because managers would need to determine what rewards each employee values, measure the various expectancies, and adjust the relationships to create motivation. This requires a detailed understanding of each employee's desires and values.