Page 234 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Unit 11: Work Motivation

3. Motivation has many facets: Researchers have analyzed various aspects of motivation, Notes
including how it is aroused, how it is directed, what influences its persistence, and how it
is stopped.
4. The purpose of motivation theories is to predict behaviour: The distinction must be made
between motivation, behaviour and performance. Motivation is what causes behaviour; if
the behaviour is effective, high performance will result.
Motivation is the underlying process that initiates, directs and sustains behaviour in order to
satisfy physiological and psychological needs. At any given time, one might explain behaviour
as a combination of motives – needs or desires that energize and direct behaviour toward a goal.
The intensity of our motivation, which depends on the number and the strength of the motives
involved, has a bearing on the effort and the persistence with which we pursue our goals.
Sometimes we pursue an activity as an end in itself simply because it is enjoyable, not because
any external reward is attached to it. This type of motivation is known as intrinsic motivation.
On the other hand, when we engage in activities not because they are enjoyable, but in order to
gain some external reward or to avoid some undesirable consequence, we are pulled by extrinsic
motivation. Table 11.1 gives examples of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

Table 11.1: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Description Examples
Intrinsic An activity is pursued as an end A person anonymously donates a large sum of
Motivation in itself because it is enjoyable money to a university to fund a scholarship for
and rewarding. deserving students.
A child reads several books each week because
reading is fun.
Extrinsic An activity is pursued to gain A person agrees to donate a large sum of money
Motivation an external reward or to avoid to a university for the construction of a building,
an undesirable consequence. provided it will bear the family name.
A child reads two books each week to avoid
losing television privileges.

Source: Samuel E. Wood and Ellen Green Wood, "The World of Psychology", Allyn and Bacon, Boston
(2nd Edition) 1996, page 36.

Caselet Going the Extra Mile

xperts say that a motivated and engaged employee will always go the extra mile in
an organisation. S/he becomes the flag bearer of the organisation and helps create
Epositive perceptions in the market. Especially in times of economic turmoil, it is
necessary to motivate employees and help them see the bigger picture of where the
organisation is headed, and this needs to be regularly re-enforced. According to Mallika
Vyas, head - HR, IDBI Fortis Life Insurance, "It is essential that employees see that they are
major stakeholders in the accomplishment of the organisation's mission. When employees
feel closely rooted to the organisation and see meaningful goals they strive to achieve
them. In essence, every organisation is as good as the employees, so during tough times,
motivated employees will always unite to ensure that their organisation is able to meet
their objectives."

Contd...

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 229