Motivation Theories Flashcards

Flashcards on Motivation Theories

Motivation

The human process that activates, directs, sustains, and stops behavior.

The Motivation Cycle

A cyclical process consisting of six stages: Unsatisfied need, Search for alternatives, Choice of best way, Action to obtain need satisfier, Re-examination, Potential re-motivation.

Manager's Role in Motivation

To influence the motivation cycle to achieve organizational objectives by understanding and satisfying employee wants and needs.

Factors Affecting Motivation

Individual differences, job characteristics, and organizational practices.

Content Theories

Theories based on the idea that people are driven to meet basic needs that produce satisfaction when they are met (e.g., Maslow's hierarchy of needs).

Process Theories

Theories concerned with how people are motivated – with how they choose need satisfiers and how external factors affect that process.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A theory that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Alderfer's ERG Theory

A theory that reduces Maslow's needs to three levels: existence, relatedness, and growth.

McClelland’s Achievement Motivation Theory

Focuses on three needs: achievement, affiliation, and power.

Need for Achievement

The desire to accomplish challenging tasks and achieve a standard of excellence.

Need for Affiliation

The desire to maintain warm, friendly relationships with others.

Need for Power

The desire to influence others and control one's environment.

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory

A theory distinguishing between hygiene factors (cause dissatisfaction) and motivation factors (increase job satisfaction).

Hygiene Factors

Work conditions related to dissatisfaction (e.g., company policy, supervision, salary).

Motivation Factors

Work conditions related to satisfaction and psychological growth (e.g., achievement, recognition, responsibility).

Expectancy Theory

A theory that motivation depends on expectancy, instrumentality, and valence.

Expectancy

Subjective assessment that effort will produce the desired results.

Instrumentality

Assessment of how likely successful performance will be rewarded.

Valence

The value or weight that an individual attaches to the outcome.

Equity Theory

A theory that considers workers’ perceptions of the fairness of work outcomes in proportion to their inputs.

Reinforcement Theory

States that individual's behavior is a function of its consequences. (Positive, Negative, Punishment, Extinction)

Organizational Justice

An overall perception of what is fair in the workplace, encompassing distributive, procedural, and interactional justice.

Positive Reinforcement

Giving a positive response when an individual shows positive and required behavior.

Punishment (Reinforcement theory terms)

Applying an undesirable consequence for showing undesirable behavior.

Extinction (Reinforcement theory terms)

Lowering the probability of undesired behaviour by removing reward for that kind of behaviour.