Victor Vrooms Expectancy Theory
Victor Vrooms Expectancy Theory is a motivational theory that is based on the idea that individuals are motivated to work in order to achieve desired outcomes. It was developed by Vroom in 1964 and suggests that people make choices based on their expectations of what will happen as a result of their choices. Vrooms theory postulates that motivation level is determined by the individuals expectations about their capability to perform a task successfully and their expectations of the reward they will receive in exchange for completing the task. Essentially, according to Vrooms Expectancy Theory, an individuals motivation is determined by the perceived desirability of the rewards associated with completing a task, coupled with their expectation of the degree to which they are capable of completing the task in question.
Vrooms theory states that the effort an individual puts into a task is equal to their belief in the possibility of achieving a desired result, multiplied by their expected value of the result. According to Vroom, if an individual does not expect to be successful in a task, or if the results of their efforts will not be desirable, then they are not likely to put in any effort at all. A person will not take on a task from which he or she cannot expect to reap any rewards. Thus, the key to motivating individuals is to ensure that they believe their efforts will lead to a rewarding outcome.
To further explain Vrooms expectancy theory, it is important to understand its three components: expectancy, instrumentality and valance. The first component, expectancy, refers to the individuals belief in their ability to successfully complete a task. If an individual lacks self-confidence or believes that they do not have the skills or resources to accomplish a task, they will not be motivated to put in any effort. The second component, instrumentality, focuses on the rewards that an individual can expect to receive in exchange for completing the task. If the individual believes that the rewards they will receive are not desirable, they will not be motivated to put in any effort. Finally, the third component, valance, refers to the individuals assessment of the desirability of the rewards they receive from completing the task. If the rewards are not desirable, the individual will not be motivated to put in any effort.
Based on these three components, Vrooms Expectancy Theory suggests that individuals need to be aware of the rewards that are available in exchange for completing a task if they are to be motivated to put in a significant effort. If the rewards are not desirable, or if the individual does not feel capable of completing the task and does not expect to receive rewards, then the individual will not be motivated to put in any effort. Consequently, the key to motivating individuals is ensuring that they believe their efforts will lead to rewards that they desire.
To conclude, Vrooms Expectancy Theory is a motivational theory which emphasizes the importance of providing desirable rewards in order to motivate individuals to put in a significant effort. It suggests that an individuals motivation level is determined by their expectations of their ability to complete a task successfully and their perceived rewards in exchange for completing the task. If an individual feels capable of completing a task and believes that their effort will lead to desirable rewards, then they will be motivated to put in a significant effort.
