Question

Expectancy Theory

According to expectancy theory, motivation involves the relationship between your effort, your performance, and the desirability of the outcomes (such as pay or recognition) you receive for your performance. These relationships are affected by three elements- expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. For your motivation to be high, you must have a high level of all three of these elements. If any element is low, motivation decreases. This activity is important because the underlying logic of expectancy theory is understandable and applicable for managers, and the theory has received a great deal of research support for its use as a motivational tool.

 

The goal of this exercise is to challenge your knowledge of the expectancy theory of motivation.

 

For each person, select the element of expectancy theory that his or her scenario best exemplifies. If a scenario does not relate to an element of expectancy theory, select "Does not apply."

1. Ryo is not very excited about meeting his performance goals this quarter because he has compared his goals to his coworker's goals and doesn't feel they are equitable. 

2. Lucy wants to attend training before she takes on a new job role. Does not apply 

3. At this time in his life, Mateo would rather have more time off than he would a bonus check. 

4. Thu could care less about meeting her goals this quarter because the reward is a $500 Omaha Steaks gift card and Thu is a vegetarian. 

5. Darius isn't confident about tackling a new project because he's not at all familiar with the software platform. 

6. Catalina knows that she will receive a huge year-end bonus if she meets her sales goals. 

7. Madison is going to try really hard to succeed at her project because she has a high need for achievement.

8. Adnan's boss dangles rewards in front of employees as performance incentives, but sadly Adnan knows that even when employees perform well, most of them never see any actual rewards.

 

Options are Expectancy, Instrumentality, Valence, or Does not Apply

Answer 1

1.Ryo is not very excited about meeting his performance goals this quarter because he has compared his goals to his coworker's goals and doesn't feel they are equitable.

Answer=Does Not Apply

2.Lucy wants to attend training before she takes on a new job role.

Answer=Expectancy

Reason= Expectancy indicates to perform well on a new job after training

3.At this time in his life, Mateo would rather have more time off than he would a bonus check.
Answer= Valence

Reason= valance is indicated by having something instead of looking for anything else.

4.They could care less about meeting her goals this quarter because the reward is a $500 Omaha Steaks gift card and Thu is a vegetarian.
Answer=Valence

5.Darius isn't confident about tackling a new project because he's not at all familiar with the software platform.
Answer=Expectancy

Reason= His expectation of not managing the software indicates Expectancy

6. Catalina knows that she will receive a huge year-end bonus if she meets her sales goals.
Answer=Instrumentality

Reason= Here the efforts and achieving sales goals indicates Instrumentality

7. Madison is going to try really hard to succeed at her project because she has a high need for achievement.
Answer= Does Not Apply

8.Adnan's boss dangles rewards in front of employees as performance incentives, but sadly Adnan knows that even when employees perform well, most of them never see any actual rewards.
Answer=Instrumentality

Reason= Instrumentality indicates the performance which may not provide any rewards