Question

a) What is the importance of feedback for maintaining a motivational climate b) Explain Reinforcement Theory of motivation. How can you apply this theory for providing a motivational climate at your workplace?

Answer 1

Feedback is very important for maintaining a motivational climate in the organization. Feedback encourages employees to give better performance. When an employee receives positive feedback it lets them know what they should continue to do, because it was good and it got noticed by the superiors and co-workers. Positive feedback is where employer praises a desired attitude, behavior, or performance of employee. The effect of it is that the person is encouraged to repeat this behavior and is also motivated to improve. It also builds self-confidence and self-esteem in the employees at the workplace. Continuous feedback is important for maintain a motivational climate at workplace, because it increases the performance of the employees, and also helps organization in growth and development.

Reinforcement theory of motivation is based law of effect, where behaviors are selected by their consequences and overlook the individual’s internal side. Reinforcement theory of motivation states that individual’s behavior is a function of its consequences. This theory focuses completely on what happens to an individual when he or she takes some action. The managers use the following methods for controlling the behavior of the employees’ are-

1. Positive reinforcement- it implies giving a positive response when an employee show positive and required behavior. Mainly reward is a positive and more spontaneous reinforcement, but not necessarily.

2. Negative reinforcement- it implies rewarding employee by removing negative or undesirable consequences.

3. Punishment- it means applying undesirable consequence for showing undesirable behavior by employee. For example: suspending an employee for breaking organizational rules.

4. Extinction- it implies lowering the probability of an undesired behavior by removing reward for the kind of behavior. For example: suppose an employee no longer receives praise for his good work, he or she may feel that his behavior is generating no fruitful consequences. So he or she may unintentionally lower the desirable behavior.

Managers can do following things to provide a motivational climate at workplace through reinforcement theory-

1. Must ensure that manager do no reward all employees simultaneously.

2. They must inform or give feedback to employees about what they are not doing correctly.

3. They must tell the employees how they can achieve positive reinforcement.

4. Managers should try to structure the contingencies of rewards and punishments on the job in such a way that the consequences of effective job behavior are positive or pleasant while the consequences of ineffective work behavior are negative or unpleasant for the receiver.

5. By increasing the pay or by giving bonuses to achieve the goals and values of the organization.

6. Continuous reinforcement is very effective in motivating desirable behaviors, especially in primary or early stages of learning.

7. Treat staff well

8. Recognize the differences among employees

9. Set realistic goals

10. Prevent demonization

11. Apart from giving incentives, pay raise, manager has to focus on non-monetary rewards as well, such as an achievement award or a letter of appreciation.