Expectancy Theory

Expectancy Theory
In this topic you have covered an important theory of motivation called Expectancy Theory. Let’s apply this theory to your university study,
specifically the upcoming essay assessment.

There are three expectancy factors that will affect your motivation to succeed:

Expectancy is

your beliefthat working hard on your essay will result in the production ofa good quality piece ofwork (i.e. a least a high pass or
credit although more able students may have higher expectations)

lnstrumentality is that your successful performance according to the

marking criteria will attain a desired mark.You just need to trust your lecturerwith this one.

Valence is the value you place on having

strong written communication skills. Take this as given. Employers are telling us that this is one ofthe most important skills they are
looking for in graduates.

This activity is addressing the first factor- expectancy. l have found many students don’t work hard on essays

because their past efforts did not seem to bring much reward. If you followthe advice below carefully and continue to respond to feedback
then you will, with practice, be a much betterwriterthan you are now by the time you graduate.

Time spent on the activities below will

save you time and valuable marks when you go to write your essay.

Complete Tasks A, B and C. Sample answers below.

Task A – identifying

and justifying a strong central argument

Step 1: Watch the RMIT essay writing video overview and look at the tutorials if you would like

more detailed advice on essay writing. http://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/essay-writing

Step 2: To ensure that you understand

what RMIT mean by argument (orwhat can be called a ‘thesis statement’) read this information sheet by Nancy Armstrong: Thesis
statements.

Step 3: For each ofthe following statements, identify whetherthe statement is strong, too narrow ortoo broad. Justify your

evaluation with reference to the ‘thesis statements’ information sheet. lfthe statement is too narrow or broad, rewrite it to fix the
problem.

I have found that most people at work are motivated primarily by money. BROAD/NARROW/STRONG?

Happy workers are more productive

than unhappy workers. BROAD/NARROW/STRONG?

Many motivation theories taught in business schools such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and

self-efficacy theory are culturally biased. BROAD/NARROW/STRONG?

Task B – writing your own essay introduction

Step 1: Reviewthe RMIT

essay writing materials and Armstrong’s Thesis statements’ document. http://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/essay-writing
Step 2:

Construct an introduction for your chosen essay topic forthe next assessment. Remember a good essay introduction includes:

a. your

central argument orthesis statement

b. the general purpose and scope ofthe paper

c. the plan ofthe essay

Task C – reviewing your

referencing

This activity is designed to help you refine your referencing technique. Correct referencing is a requirement for a pass grade

when you submit any university assessments.

Step 1: Open the attached document (Referencing activity) to do this exercise. (The formatting

does not work in WebOuest)

Step 2: The best way to do this exercise is to print it off and have the APA Referencing Guide beside you to

compare each entry with the way indicated in the guide. Or you may preferto go to the http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
Online Writing Lab for more detail.

Step 3: Enjoy an increase in about 10 marks or more in all future academic assessments!

SAMPLE

ANSWERS

Task A

Good ethics is good for business” Topic = business ethics

BROAD

Stronger statement – Ethics by definition is about

doing good for others so although there has been shown to be a relationship between good ethics and good business this is not why a manager
needs to be thinking about it.

I like working in an open plan office” Topic = ? not clear

NARROW

Stronger statement – The benefits

of open plan offices outweigh the disadvantages in terms of cost, sharing ofideas and employee productivity.

Ethics is not a business

tool” (Mackay, 2004, p.172). Topic = business ethics

STRONG – this statement is brief but fulfils the three conditions a thesis

statement:

1. It announces the topic – ethics

2. It refiects a judgement about the topic- Mackay has a strong opinion about this

3. It provides a blueprint forwhat is to come – Mackay spends the rest ofthis chapter arguing that ethics is important in and of

itself

Task B

[Sample essay question: There are many theories and concepts that relate to explaining the behaviour ofindividuals in

organisations. Discuss how and why it is important for a managerto have a good understanding ofthese explanations and ides regarding
individual behaviour even though the manager is charged with the management ofa workplace group orteam in the organisation.]
Much

emphasis is placed on the management ofteams or groups in today’s management literature. [topic/purpose]While there is much to be gained
from such an approach in organisations, it is also important for managers to rememberthat groups are composed ofindividuals. These
individuals each have unique characteristics that manifest themselves in individual behavioural ways. Thus, individual behaviour occurs
alongside the behavioural outcomes of groups. At any time in a group orteam both individual and group theory can be used to explain the
behaviourthat is occurring within the group. [central argument] ,This essay will discuss some resulting overlays ofindividual and group
behaviours and also draw attention to the problems managers might face ifthey do not understand the behaviour ofindividuals within groups.
Also highlighted will be some ofthe possible gains a manager might make if he/she can harness the more positive attributes of some
individuals to influence other group members [plan]. (Fromholtz, 1995)

Task C

An example is given on the referencing task sheet.
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