edf40wrjww2CF_PaperMaster:Desc
Topic: Theories of Motivation
Motivation is a worldwide issue that has been one of the most frequently researched topics in the study of micro organizational behaviour (Barling & Loughlin, 1999). Western society often mistakenly considers motivation to be an innate attribute which implies that some people have it and others do not. A multitude of theories exist that describe the many ways individuals are motivated. According to Langton and Robbins each theory can be divided into two categories; needs theories and process theories (Langton & Robbins, 2007). Needs theories recognizes the different requirements that people have and how they can be applied to motivate the individual. Process theories include a broader portrayal which describes the procedures involved in motivating others. The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare popular process theories which are the expectancy theory and goal setting theory. Similarities and differences of these theories will be distinguished in order to illustrate just how complex motivation can be since many different human behavior variables must be considered.
Motivation, as defined by Merriam-Webster (2006-2007), is "something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act". Alternatively, motivation may be defined as the process that accounts for an individual's intensity (how hard a person tries), direction, and persistence (how long a person can maintain his/her efforts) of effort toward reaching a goal (Langton & Robbins, 2007). With each differing definition of motivation, the identification of external and internal incentives and the individual's reaction to those incentives are common. Motivation theories ha ...