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Engagement, Empowerment, and Motivation

Q: What begins workforce engagement?

Workforce engagement begins with Involvement – any activity by which employees participate in work-related decisions and improvement activities, with the objectives of tapping the creative energies of all employees and improving their motivation.

82 important questions on Engagement, Empowerment, and Motivation

What begins workforce engagement?

Workforce engagement begins with Involvement – any activity by which employees participate in work-related decisions and improvement activities, with the objectives of tapping the creative energies of all employees and improving their motivation.

What is employee engagement rooted in, and what does it offer over "traditional" management practices?

Employee engagement is rooted in the psychology of human needs and offers many advantages over "traditional" management practices.

What can involvement activities range from?

Involvement activities can range from:

simple sharing of information
providing input on work-related issues
making suggestions
self-directed responsibilities such as setting goals, making business decisions, and solving problems

What is a key driver of workforce engagement related to values?

Commitment to organizational values.

What does employee engagement replace with trust and cooperation?

Replaces the adversarial mentality with trust and cooperation.

What helps ensure workforce engagement by understanding customer satisfaction?

Knowing that customers are satisfied with products and services.

What does employee engagement develop in individuals?

Develops the skills and leadership capability of individuals, creating a sense of mission and fostering trust.

What are key employee attitudes that correlate strongly with higher profits?

Workers feel they are given the opportunity to do what they do best every day
They believe their opinions count
They sense their fellow workers are committed to quality
They have made a direct connection between their work and the company’s mission

What belief is important for workforce engagement?

Belief that opinions count.

What does employee engagement increase in relation to the organization?

Increases employee morale and commitment to the organization.

What is crucial for workforce engagement regarding work expectations?

Clearly understanding work expectations.

What does employee engagement foster as a source of competitive advantage?

Fosters creativity and innovation, the source of competitive advantage.

How do personal contributions relate to customer needs in workforce engagement?

Understanding of how personal contributions help meet customer needs.

What does employee engagement help people understand and instill into the corporate culture?

Helps people understand quality principles and instills these principles into the corporate culture.

What is important for workforce engagement in terms of recognition and rewards?

Being recognized and rewarded fairly.

What does employee engagement allow employees to do immediately?

Allows employees to solve problems at the source immediately.

What should senior leaders do to enhance workforce engagement?

Knowing that senior leaders value the workforce.

What does employee engagement improve?

Improves quality and productivity.

How should employees be treated to ensure workforce engagement?

Being treated equally with respect.

What ability is important for workforce engagement related to job focus?

Being able to concentrate on the job and work processes.

What alignment is necessary for workforce engagement?

Alignment of personal work objectives to work plans.

What is a reason for the failure of empowerment related to management support?

Management support and commitment is nonexistent or not sustained.

What are the principles involved in successfully giving power to employees?

Empower sincerely and completely
Establish mutual trust
Provide employees with business information
Ensure that employees are capable
- Check out the Starbucks sidebar in the textbook
Don’t ignore middle management
Change the reward system

How is empowerment used as a manipulative tool?

Empowerment is used as a manipulative tool to ensure employees complete tasks and assignments without giving them any real responsibility or authority.

What is the definition of empowerment according to the document?

Empowerment is giving people authority to do whatever is necessary to satisfy customers and trusting employees to make the right choices without waiting for management approval.

How do managers use empowerment to avoid responsibility?

Managers use empowerment to abdicate responsibility or task accountability, accepting accolades for successes and assigning fault to others for failure.

How is empowerment deployed selectively?

Empowerment is deployed selectively, segmenting the workforce into those who are empowered and those who are not.

What is the impact of an empowered workforce?

An empowered workforce leads to improved motivation and morale, as well as better quality, productivity, and speed of decision making.

What does the continuum of employee involvement practices show?

The continuum of employee involvement practices shows a range from low to high involvement, with small to large change from traditional organization.

What excuse is empowerment used for regarding employee development?

Empowerment is used as an excuse to not invest in training or employee development.

What do managers fail to provide that contributes to the failure of empowerment?

Managers fail to provide feedback and do not recognize achievements.

What do Process theories emphasize when people choose their behavior?

Process theories treat needs as just one consideration when people choose their behavior and place greater emphasis on expected outcomes (consequences or rewards).

What is the consequence of using positive reinforcement in studying behavior?

Positive reinforcer (Teacher approval) is presented when student studies.

What is behavior modification considered as?

Behavior modification is one theory in this group.

What can characteristics of technical professionals suggest?

Characteristics of technical professionals can suggest what motivates them.

What change in behavior occurs with the use of positive reinforcement?

Frequency of behavior increases (Student studies more).

What are the four components of behavior modification?

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement, or avoidance
Punishment
Extinction

What is a key motivational factor for technical professionals related to achievement?

Having a high need for achievement and deriving their motivation primarily from the work itself – most productive when professional goals can be achieved in the process of pursuing organizational goals.

What is the consequence of using negative reinforcement in studying behavior?

Negative reinforcer (Teacher disapproval) is removed when student studies.

Which components of behavior modification increase the probability of desired behavior?

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement, or avoidance

What are the motivator factors in Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory?

Recognition
Work itself
Responsibility
Advancement
Achievement

What are the three major motives or needs in work situations according to another perspective?

The need for achievement – the drive or desire to excel – to accomplish something better than has been done in the past (Maslow’s 5th level of self-actualization?)
The need for power – the desire to control one’s environment, including resources and people (4th level of ego or esteem?)
The need for affiliation – the need for human companionship and acceptance (3rd level of belonging?)

How do technical professionals achieve autonomy over their work?

Desiring autonomy over work – achieved by participating in goal setting and decision making.

What change in behavior occurs with the use of negative reinforcement?

Frequency of behavior increases (Student studies more).

Which components of behavior modification decrease the probability of undesired behavior?

Punishment
Extinction

What is the first level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Physiological Needs (Food, shelter, air, water)

What are the hygiene factors in Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory?

Salary
Working conditions
Company policies
Relationship with the boss
Relationship with peers

What is McClelland's point regarding people's needs?

McClelland’s point is that different people have different needs, not just the same needs in a clear hierarchy of importance.

How do technical professionals tend to identify themselves?

Tending to identify first with their profession and second with their company.

What needs are associated with job security and a predictable work environment?

Safety Needs (Job security, predictable work environment)

What do technical professionals seek to maintain to avoid obsolescence?

Seeking to maintain their expertise and stave off obsolescence.

What is employee engagement rooted in?

Employee engagement is rooted in the psychology of human needs and supported by the motivation models of McGregor, Maslow, Herzberg, and others.

How is the average person described in Theory X?

The average person is lazy and lacks ambition, dislikes responsibility, self-centered & indifferent to organization needs, resistant to change, gullible & not bright, requires close supervision and control.

Which level of Maslow's Hierarchy involves acceptance by others and being part of a group?

Love and Belonging Needs (Acceptance by others, being part of a group)

What amenities are housed in the offices of the TBD company?

The offices of house an NCAA-regulation-size basketball court, a TruGolf simulator, and a 90-inch television permanently tuned to ESPN. Food trucks come monthly to treat the staff to lunch, and fridges stocked with free bottles of Propel water dot the office.

What do content theories try to explain?

Content theories try to explain motivation by looking at human needs and people’s efforts to satisfy them.

What type of view of motivation does Theory X represent?

A more traditional view of motivation.

What needs include self-respect, prestige, and recognition?

Esteem Needs (Self-respect, prestige, recognition)

What is one effect of compensation mentioned?

Effect on motivation

What do managers want employees to feel?

Managers want employees to feel … cosseted…

Which theories are included in content theories?

Theories include Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory.

How are people perceived in Theory Y?

People are not by nature passive or resistant to change.

What is the highest level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Self Actualization (Realizing one’s full potential, creativity, self-development)

What types of plans are compared in the context of compensation?

Merit versus capability-/performance-based plans

What do bosses insist their efforts are achieving?

Bosses insist their efforts are raising revenues, saving on recruiting costs, and boosting productivity.

What are some components of the quality of working life and employer-provided services?

Personal and career counseling,
Career development and employability services,
Recreational or cultural activities,
Daycare, special leave for family responsibilities or for community services,
Flexible work hours, outplacement services, and extended health care for retirees.

What do process theories assume about behavioral choices?

Process theories try to explain motivation by assuming that behavioral choices are made more rationally, based on the expected outcomes.

What are two types of compensation strategies mentioned?

Team-based pay and Gainsharing

What are the types of recognition and reward mentioned?

Monetary or non-monetary
Formal or informal
Individual or group
Type of employee

What does the company Alterra LLC sell?

The company, Alterra LLC, sells pest-control services.

What theory is included under process theories?

Theories include Behavior Modification.

What is the essential task of management in Theory Y?

The essential task of management is to arrange the operation so that people can achieve best goals by directing their own efforts.

What is motivation described as in the context of an individual's response?

An individual’s response to a felt need.

What are the strategies for effective recognition and reward?

Give both individual and team awards
Involve everyone
Tie rewards to quality
Allow peers and customers to nominate and recognize superior performance
Publicize extensively
Make recognition fun

What do these models attempt to reconcile?

These models attempt to reconcile the psychological needs of people and the economic needs of businesses.

What question is associated with motivation?

“What’s in it for me?”

What are some more recent theories of work motivation?

More recent theories of work motivation include Job Characteristics Theory, Acquired Needs Theory, and Goal-Setting Theory.

What are the views of motivation?

Extrinsic (External)
- Compensation
- Recognition & Reward
- Work Environment
Intrinsic (Internal)

How do Berelson and Steiner define motivation?

“An inner state that energizes, activates, or moves, and that directs or channels behavior towards goals.”

What is Robbins' definition of motivation?

“The willingness to exert high levels of effort to reach organizational goals, conditioned by the effort’s ability to satisfy some individual need.”

How do Campbell et al. define motivation?

“The direction of an individual’s behavior; the strength of a behavior; and the persistence of that behavior.”

What is Carnegie's view on motivation?

“There is only one way under high heaven to get anybody to do anything. And that is by making the other person want to do it.”

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Quality Management

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