Question

Describe the reinforcement perspective and social learning theory and how they can be used to motivate employees. Provide sources if used.

Answer 1

Reinforcement Theory

• The Reinforcement theory states the individuals behavior is a function of its consequences. individuals behavior with positive consequence tends to be repeated and individuals behavior with negative consequence tends not to be repeated.
• This theory overlooks the internal state of the individual. this theory focus on the what happens to an individual when he takes some action. The external environment of the organization must be designed effectively and positively in order to motivate the employee. It acts as a strong tool that helps to analyse and control the mechanism for individuals behavior.
• This theory tells how an individual learns behavior. Managers who are making the effort to motivate the employee need to make sure that they do not reward all the employees simultaneously. They must tell the employees what they did wrong. they must tell the employee how they are able to achieve the positive reinforcement.

Social learning theory

• Organization needs the staff behavior should conform to the work place performance standards. The managers uses training and development programs to improve the employee skills, increase the frequency of the required behavior and decrease the undesired behaviors. it suggest the effective strategy in order to achieve these goals involves giving opportunities to observe the rewarding desired work place behavior and also punishing in appropriate behavior.
• This theory believe that employee can learn the proper behavior by observing the organization response to the behavior of the other employees.Employees need not to perform the behavior in order to learn it, because employees will be able to practice the correct behavior in their imagination.
• The manager need to note that employees learn correct behavior by observing the treatment of the other staffs in various circumstances. He must be consistent in the expectation of the social behavior of the employee and manager should not give the special treatment for favorite staff or higher ranking staff. It supports the concept of manager should provide role models of appropriate behavior. The manager can create the social learning opportunities by praising or individual rewards at the public place such as staff meetings.