Job Design Perspectives on Motivation

• job design: division of an organization’s work among its employees

  • the application of motivational theories to jobs to increase satisfaction and performance

• two techniques:

  1. fitting people to jobs

     1. traditional way

  2. fitting jobs to people

     1. modern way

        1. enlargement: increasing the number of tasks in a job to increase variety

        2. enrichment: building motivating factors into a job

Reinforcement Perspectives on Motivation

• reinforcement theory: suggests that behavior with positive consequences tends to be repeated, whereas behavior with negative consequences tends to not be repeated

  • pioneered by B.F. Skinner (operant conditioning) and Edward Thorndike (law of effect)

  • use of reinforcement theory to change human behavior is called behavior modification

4 Types of Behavior Modification

• positive reinforcement: use of positive consequences to strengthen a particular behavior

• negative reinforcement: strengthening a behavior by withdrawing something negative

• extinction: weakening behavior by ignoring it or making sure it’s not reinforced

• punishment: weakening behavior by presenting something negative or withdrawing something positive

Using Behavior Modification to Motivate Employees

• positive reinforcement:

  • reward only desirable behavior

  • give rewards as soon as possible

  • be clear about what behavior is desired

  • have different rewards and recognize individual differences

• punishment:

  • punish only undesirable behavior

  • give reprimands or disciplinary actions as soon as possible

  • be clear about what behavior is desirable

  • administer punishment in private

  • combine punishment and positive reinforcement

Using Compensation, Non-monetary Incentives, and Other Rewards to Motivate

• compensation: monetary rewards

• non-monetary incentives:

  • work-life balance

  • ability to expand skills

  • positive work environment

  • finding meaning in work