Business Leadership: Critical Thinking - Essay Example

With the significant satisfaction of each need, there would be a force driving the emergence of the next need hierarchically. Therefore, this theory represents what practically happens in day-to-day life as when a need gets satisfied, it no longer would motivate, but the next higher need would take place. The higher order needs – esteem needs and self actualization – would be satisfied internally as opposed to the lower order needs – social, safety and physiological needs – satisfied externally. Q5. Which of the three process motivation theories do you prefer? Why? Process motivation theories explain people’s choice of a particular behavior aimed at fulfilling their needs.

Of the three theories under this category, my preference would be the expectancy theory. This theory appears practical in day-to-day living with Lussier and Achua describing its proposition that “people are motivated when they believe they can accomplish the task, they will get the reward, and the rewards for doing the task are worth the effort” (p.88). From this theory, expectancy would be described as the perception of one’s abilities to accomplish particular objectives. Therefore, higher expectancies present better chances for motivation.

But for the practicality of this theory, there would need for expectancy, instrumentality and valence (Peterson 65). Therefore, this theory provides an appropriate tool for measuring an employee’s effort, level of satisfaction and performance though in situations where the required conditions would be fulfilled. Q6. What is your motivation theory? What major methods, techniques, and so on, so you plan to use on the job as a manager to increase motivation performance? On an individual capacity, the goal-setting theory applies as through setting objectives, I get motivated and perform.

According to Lussier and Achua (90), the goal-setting theory postulates that specific and difficult goals would motivate people, giving a sense of purpose for working to accomplish a specific task. As a manager, I plan to give incentives to employees to motivate them and enhance performance. Studies by Gana and Babake (11) support the postulate that incentives play a critical role in enhancing performance of workers. The expectancy theory indeed supports this postulate noting that with a reward, workers would be motivated to work.

I would propagate fairness and equity among all the workers with regard to compensation and promotions. The case study on Bill and Melinda Gates by Lussier and Achua (62) support the importance of equal value aimed at reducing inequalities and improving lives as a way of motivating employees. I would encourage the team culture to ensure that employees grow together and the weaker ones get strength from the stronger ones so as to improve their motivation. Q7. Reinforcement theory is unethical because it is used to manipulate employees.

Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. There has been much debate on the ethicality of reinforcement in getting to manipulate employees, but this paper holds that reinforcement theory as ethical. According to the theory of reinforcement, consequences of a behavior would cause people to behave in a given way (Lussier and Achua 92). It could be argued to be unethical as the reinforcement agent uses it to