Week 6 Tutorial 5 Motivation Concepts

Materials: Interview script: Predicting Harrys Work Effort (one per student)
Personal Ranking of Work-related Attributes (one per student)
Results of recent large-scale survey of Generation Y/Millennial post-secondary
students (to be provided by Unit Coordinator)

Purpose: Activity 1 Harrys Work Effort

- This exercise is designed to help you understand expectancy theory and how its elements affect a persons leel of
effort towards job performance.
Steps

- This exercise may be completed either individually or in small groups of 4 5 students. When the individuals (or
groups) have completed the exercise, the results will be discussed and compared with others in the class.
- Provide each student with a copy of the interview script. Ask students to read the interview case.
- Then calculate whether Harry will engage in high or just acceptable performance effort under the conditions
described. Valence scores range from -1.0 to +1.0. All expectancies are probabilities ranging from 0 (no chance)
to 1.0 (definitely will occur). The effort-level scores are calculated by multiplying each valence by the
appropriate P-to-O expectancy, summing these results and then multiplying the sum by the E-to-P expectancy.
- It is estimated that this activity will take approximately 40 minutes.

Purpose: Activity 2 Needs Priority Exercise

This class exercise is designed to help students understand employee needs in the workplace.
Steps

- The table below lists in alphabetical order 16 characteristics of the job or work environment. Working alone use
the far-left column to rank order the importance of these characteristics to you as an individual. Write 1
beside the most important characteristic, 2 for the second most important and continue to 16 for the least
important.
- Identify any 3 of these work attributes that you believe have the largest score differences between Generation Y
(Millennial) male and female university students in your home country. (ie those born in 1980 or after).
Indicate which gender you think identifies that attribute as more important.
- Assign students to groups where they compare each others rank-order results as well as perceived gender
differences in needs. Note the reasons for the largest variations in rankings and be prepared to discuss these
reasons with the whole class. Student should pay close attend to different needs, self-concepts and various
forms of diversity (culture, profession, age etc.) within their class to identify possible explanations for any
variation of results across students.
- The instructor will provide results of a recent large-scale survey of Generation Y/Millennial post-secondary
students (ie those born in 1980 or after).
- When these results are presented, identify the reasons for any noticeable differences in the class. Relate the
differences to your understanding of the emerging view of employee needs and drives in work settings. For
gender differences, discuss reasons by men and women might differ in these work-related attributes.
 Activity 1 : Interview with Harry

Interviewer: Hi Harry, I have been asked to talk to you about your job. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

Harry: No, not at all.

Interviewer: Thanks, Harry. What are the things that you would anticipate getting satisfaction from as a result of
your job?

Harry: What do you mean?

Interviewer: Well, what is important to you with regard to your job here?

Harry: I guest most important is job security. As a matter of fact, I cant think of anything that is more
important to me. I think getting a raise would be nice, and a promotion would be even better.

Interviewer: Anything else that you think would be nice to get, or for that matter, that you would want to avoid?

Harry: I certainly would not want my buddies to make fun of me. Were pretty friendly, and this is really
important to me.

Interviewer: Anything else?

Harry: No, not really. That seems to be it.

Interviewer: How satisfied do you think you would be with each of these?

Harry: What do you mean?

Interviewer: Well assume that something that you would really like has a value of +1.0 and something you would
really not like that is, you would want to avoid has a value of -1.0, and something you are indifferent
about has a value of 0.

Harry: OK. Getting a raise would have a value of 0.5; a promotion is more important so Id say 0.7; and having
my buddies make fun of me, 0.9

Interviewer: But, I though you didnt want your buddies to make fun of you.

Harry: I dont.

Interviewer: But you gave it a value of 0.9.

Harry: Oh, I guess it should be -0.9.

Interviewer: Ok, I just want to be sure I understand what youre saying. Harry, what do you think the chances are of
these things happening?

Harry: That depends.

Interviewer: On what?

Harry: On whether my performance is high or just acceptable.

Interviewer: What if it is high?

Harry: I figure I stand about a 50-50 chance of getting a raiseand/ or a promotion, but I also think that there is
a 90% chance that my buddies will make fun of me.

Interviewer: What about job security?

Harry: I am certain my job is secure here, whether my performance is high or just acceptable. I cant
remember the last guy who was doing his job and got fired. But if my performance is just acceptable my
changes of a raise or promotion are about 10%. However, then the guys will not make fun of me. That I
am certain about.

Interviewer: What is the likelihood of your performance level being high?

Harry: That depends. If I work very hard and put out a high degree of effort, Id say that my chance of my
performance being high is about 90%. But if I put out a low level of effort, you know if I just take it
easy then I figure that the chances of my doing an acceptable job is about 80%.

Interviewer: Well, which would you do: put out a low level or a high level of effort?

Harry: With all the questions you asked me, you should be able to tell me.

Interviewer: You may be right!

Harry: Yeah? Thats nice. Hey, if you dont have any other question, Id like to join the guys for coffee.

Interviewer: OK, thanks for your time.

 Activity 2: Needs Priority Exercise

Personal Ranking of Work-related Attributes

Attributes of work (listed alphabetically) Your ranking ( 1 = most important)

Challenging work

Commitment to social responsibility

Good health and benefits plan

Good initial salary level

Good people to report to

Good people to work with

Good training and development

opportunities/developing new skills

Good variety of work

Job security

Opportunities for advancement in position

Opportunities to have a personal impact

Opportunities to have a social impact

Opportunity to travel

Organisation is a leader in its field

Strong commitment to employee diversity

Work-life balance

Source: Adapted from McShane, S Olekalns, M & Travaglione, T, 2013. Organisational Behaviour: Emerging Knowledge.
Global Insights. McGraw Hill. Asia-Pacific Edition. pp. 161 163.