Theories of Motivation, Essay Example

Goal setting is a common internal mechanical theory that is best utilized to help motivate employees to achieve greater levels of work efficiency.  By using the concepts found within goal setting theory (Locke & Latham, 2006), the motivational program would concentrate on the manager assisting the employees with creating individual performance-based goals.  The employees will not only participate in creating their own goals, but they will also receive incentives for attaining the goals set forth which takes parts of the incentive theory of motivation as a basis for pushing the employees into greater levels of achievement (Schop, 2009). There will be a goal-setting meeting at the beginning of every fiscal year for the manager and employees to determine the appropriate goals and an incentives-based program to work and goal achievement, such as bonuses, gift cards or additional paid vacation time.  At the midway point of the year in late December, the company will have individual meetings to go over the progress of the employee and show areas of weaknesses and strengths in regards to achieving the goals set forth from the initial meeting.  This will serve as a reminder of the employee’s work goals as well as provide a status update so that all parties involved are aware of the possibilities for attaining the incentives.

At DeVry University, the admissions employees receive a similar staff motivation and evaluation program as described above. Goal setting theory is utilized by the Director of Admissions in a meeting between the Admissions counselors and the Director at the beginning of each new, eight week enrollment session. The job is a sales position and all work is treated as cold calling selling. The number of telephone calls made, emails sent, interviews conducted and admissions deposits received are all tracked daily and weekly.  Weekly status update meetings are conducted by the Director of Admissions to point out the progress of the entire staff.  Also, the Director of Admissions at each DeVry University location is able to determine his or her own incentives-based program for all employees.  Many of these incentives include paid time off at the end of the eight week session as long as the employee has achieved his or her goals for that session.  Incentive theory and goal setting theory are both used by DeVry University consistently and has shown consistent improvement within the work environments.

References

Locke, E.A., & Latham, G.P. (2006). New directions in goal-setting theory. Current directions in psychological science, 15(5), 265-268.

Schop, C. (2009). Incentive theory of motivation, goal setting theory. SelfMadeMiracle.com, Retrieved from http://www.selfmademiracle.com/tag/incentive-theory-of-motivation-goal-setting-theory/