Vroom’s Expectancy Theory

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What is Vroom’s Expectancy Theory of Motivation?

Vroom's Expectancy Theory of Motivation is a psychological model that explains how individuals make decisions regarding various behavioral options based on the expected outcomes of those options. The theory suggests that people are motivated to act in a certain way if they believe that their actions will lead to a desired outcome.

Developed by Victor Vroom in 1964, the theory is sometimes referred to as the Expectancy-Valence Theory. It proposes that an individual's motivation is determined by three factors: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence.

  1. Expectancy

    Expectancy is the belief that a certain level of effort will lead to a specific performance outcome. For example, an employee may believe that if they work hard (effort), they will be able to meet their sales quota (performance outcome).

  2. Instrumentality

    Instrumentality is the belief that a certain performance outcome will lead to a desired reward. For example, an employee may believe that if they meet their sales quota (performance outcome), they will receive a bonus (reward). Instrumentality, therefore, involves the perception of a connection between performance and the likelihood of receiving a reward.

  3. Valence

    Valence is the attractiveness or desirability of the expected outcome. In other words, how much does the individual value the reward? For example, an employee may value a bonus very highly (high valence) if it means they can afford a new car.

According to Vroom, motivation (M) can be calculated using the formula “E x I x V = M”. Shown below is a graphical representation of the formula:

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In this formula, each factor (E, I, V) ranges from 0 to 1, and the product of these factors gives the individual's motivation to act in a certain way.

According to Expectancy Theory, an individual's motivation to perform a task is determined by the product of expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. In other words, an individual's motivation to exert effort is determined by the belief that effort will lead to performance (expectancy), that performance will lead to outcomes (instrumentality), and the perceived value of those outcomes (valence).

Itemized below (after this advert) is an example of how Expectancy Theory can be applied in the workplace:

  • A manager wants to motivate their employees to sell more products.
  • They offer their employees a bonus for every 10 products they sell.
  • The employees believe that they can sell 10 products a week if they work hard (high expectancy).
  • They also believe that if they sell 10 products, they will receive the bonus (high instrumentality).
  • The employees value the bonus (high valence).
  • Therefore, the employees are highly motivated to sell more products.

Vroom's Expectancy Theory has been widely applied in the field of organizational psychology and management to understand and enhance employee motivation. Thus it's a useful tool for understanding and managing motivation in the workplace. By identifying and addressing factors that influence expectancy, instrumentality, and valence, organizations can design motivational systems that better align with the preferences and expectations of their employees.

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  • References
    • The Implication of Adequate Motivation on Workers’ Productivity in an Organization, (“Vroom's Expectancy Theory” p.49-53) By Engr. Eur Ing. Dr. Robinson Ehiorobo
    • Human Resource Management, (“Vroom's Expectancy Theory” p. 261) By Pattanayak, Biswajeet

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