Industrial-Organizational Psychology Learning Module

Motivation and Performance

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Lesson Objectives

Know the definition and components of motivation

Understand reinforcement and goal setting Understand how these concepts are

applied to motivate employees

At the end of this lecture, you should:

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Motivation Defined

Any force that energizes and directs people to perform their jobs

Intent of behavior is to satisfy needs and achieve goals needs: physiological (hunger) or social

(achievement) incentives: situational factors that direct

behavior to achieve goals that satisfy needs reinforcers: consequences of behavior that

affect probability of repeating behavior

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Reinforcement Theory When a need exists, we are motivated to

work hard to achieve goal, to satisfy needs.

Reinforcement(Needs satisfied)

Incentive(Paycheck)

Motivationto perform

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Performance(Hard work)

Reinforcement Theory (cont.)

Employees will repeat responses that are positively reinforced

Individual must operate on environment to earn the reward

Effects will depend on schedules of reinforcement monthly paycheck daily bonuses working piece-rate on assembly line

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Case #1 Discussion

What was being used as motivation in this case?

What effects on “performance” were seen? How do these issues illustrate:

Needs Incentives Reinforcers

How are these concepts used in your jobs? Would this work for everyone?

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Goal-Setting Theory

We rationally set task-related goals We decide on the effort and time to be

invested to achieve goals Goals must be:

specific (not “do your best”) challenging but attainable accepted

Feedback on performance is critical

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

Case #2 Discussion

What are the pros and cons of establishing goals at work or school?

Would setting goals before you start influence your effort invested? In your job? In school?

What kind of goals would you set? How difficult should goals be?

Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP

How I/O psychologists help employers motivate workers

Designing Management-By-Objectives (MBO) programs managers and employees set performance

goals together Establishing organizational behavior

modification programs using reinforcement concepts in the

workplace Providing advice on reward systems

compensation, promotions, etc.Prepared by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology - SIOP