Expectancy Theory says motivation depends on:

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To understand the question, we need to recall what Expectancy Theory asserts about motivation in organizational behavior.
Option 1: 'Hierarchy of Needs' is a concept from Maslow, not Expectancy Theory. It focuses on a progression of needs rather than the cognitive calculations of expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. This makes the option inaccurate in the context of Expectancy Theory.
Option 2: 'Pay structure' refers to how compensation is organized, which can influence motivation indirectly but does not capture the core triadic cognitive process described by Expectancy Theory. On its own, pay structure ignores expectancy and perceived instrumentality and valence that the theory emphasizes.
Option 3: 'Job design' concerns shaping how a job is structured, enriched, and organized to influence performance and satisfaction. While job design can affect motivation, it is not the central mechanism proposed by Expectancy Theory, which centers on cognitive evaluations of effort-to-performance (expectancy), performance-to-outcome link (instrumentality), and the desirability of the outcome (valence).
Option 4: 'External rewards only' suggests motivation arises solely from external rewards, which contradicts Expectancy Theory’s emphasis on the combination of expectancy, instrumentality, and valence, including the individual's perception and valuation of outcomes, not merely external reinforcement.
Option 5: 'Expectancy, instrumentality, and valence' correctly identifies the trio at the heart of Expectancy Theory. Expectancy is the belief that effort will lead to performance, instrumentality is the belief that performance will lead to certain outcomes, and valence is the value the individual places on those outcomes. The theory posits motivation is a product of these three judgments.
In summary, the only option that aligns with the core components of Expectancy Theory is the one listing expectancy, instrumentality, and valence, while the others reflect related but distinct theories or incomplete notions of motivation.

33:620:302:01 MANAGEMENT SKILLS Midterm- Fall 2025

Expectancy Theory says motivation depends on:

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