Motivation in the Workplace

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The basis of this theory pivots on how individuals learn as well as influencing the trainees’ motivation to learn. Changing behaviour cannot just result from consequences, but must consider the effect that personal characteristics, their input and output, as well as feedback will have on motivation (Noe, 2010). Reinforcing particular behaviours within the initial stages of learning can become an incentivising tool to act under certain conditions, and if regularly enforced, may even become controlling. The effects of this means that reactions are not oriented around the desire to learn and progress but are due to past outcomes, as well as future expectations, internal principles, and self-efficacy (Kleinbeck, Quast, Thierry & Hacker, 1990). Therefore, this method of strengthening workplace motivation must consider when this method is suitable and when not. Using behaviour modification methods can assist in increasing productivity and safety behaviours, as well as reducing absenteeism and the time taken to do something (Redmond, 2010, in wiki). Additionally, reinforcement theory can motivate both individuals as well as the group dynamic as it cultivates a sense of commitment and performance ethic within employees and teams. The benefit of working in a team requires everyone to work as a unit to get any positive reinforcement, unlike individually which centres on looking after oneself (http://www.teambuildingportal.com/articles/team-performance/reinforcement-method). However, there are several issues with reinforcement theory. Employees have to change their behaviour to what the organisation deems as correct to be rewarded for their efforts, and managers have to let their employees know what they are doing wrong so they can learn fro...

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...ing school of thought, that of content theories. These ‘need’ theories of motivation centre on internal factors as an explanation of motivation, and include expectancy theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Alderfer EFG (existence, relatedness, and growth needs) theory, and Herzberg’s two factor theory of motivation (Advameg, 2011). To be successful in the workplace, employees need to have the inner drive and passion for it. As without this, no amount of external motivators will alter their effectiveness (http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/07/6-ways-to-motivate-yourself-at-work/). Seeing the importance of both learning and motivation perspectives is advantageous as will ultimately promote greater success in the organisation.

Works Cited

(Landy & Conte, 2010)

(Noe, 2010).

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Pr-Sa/Reinforcement-Theory.html

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