Question

Describe the expectancy theory using a personal example. Make sure the concepts of expectancy, valence, and instrumentality are applied

Answer 1

The expectancy theory is a theory of motivation which says that employees chose to behave differently according to type of outcome they desired from their effort. There are three components of expectancy theory. Example of it is given below:

Suppose an employee is not performing well and is not satisfied with his own performance. He is assigned another task by the organization. The employee will be motivated to put all effort in this task if he believes that his effort will achieve desired performance outcome. This is known as expectancy where effort is expected to produce desired performance goal.

Now suppose an employee is given high responsibility task and is expected to perform well by the organization. In this case the employee will expect that his brilliant performance will definitely result into promotion, rewards and recognition. It will thus motivate him to give his best. This component is known as instrumentality where performance is expected to produce desired outcome.

Suppose the task is allotted to employee but the value of reward associated with outcome is not satisfactory for that employee. In this case he will not be motivated to carry out that task. This component is known as valence where outcome is expected to have certain value.