1.
EXPECTANCY
THEORY OF
MOTIVATION

2.
Expectancy
Theory
• Proposed byVictor
Vroom in 1964
• Focuses on the thought
process behind
motivation
• How does the work
help the employee
meet their own goals?

3.
Four Assumptions
• People choose jobs based on their
needs and past experiences
• Behavior/Actions (work effort) is
dictated by conscious choices
• What motivates people is different for
each individual
• People will work to optimize their
personal benefits when given options

4.
EMPLOYEES NEED TO SEE
A RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THEIR WORK
AND THE ATTAINMENT OF
THEIR PERSONAL GOALS

5.
EFFORT AND EXPECTANCY
Are the goals attainable?

6.
Effort and Expectancy
• Expectancy is the assessment of the work
needed to complete a job or task
• The probability of 0 means the employee
does not believe the effort will lead to an
acceptable outcome
• A probability of 1 means that the employee
believes that an acceptable outcome is almost
certain to be met and the employee sees a
relationship between their level of effort and
their personal goals

7.
PERFORMANCE AND INSTRUMENTALITY
Will high performance lead to the reward?

8.
Performance and Instrumentality
• Instrumentality is where the employee makes
estimates about how much their task performance
relates to receiving the reward
• The employee should be able to see a relationship
between how well they perform and the personal
rewards they receive in order to increase their
motivation
• If an employee perceives that a relationship between
their performance always exists, the probability of it
existing on new tasks is nearly certain and would be a 1

9.
REWARD AND VALENCE
Is the reward in line with my goals?

10.
Reward and Valence
• Valence is how much an employee prefers
certain rewards over other rewards
• The employee may consider multiple rewards
and choose the one that most meets their
personal goals
• Valence can be shown on a scale that ranges
from -1 to 1; with a 0-level valence being
indifferent to the award

11.
VROOM’S EXPECTANCY EQUATION
Is the employee motivated?

12.
Motivational Level
• Motivation = Expectancy x Instrumentality x
Valence
– M = E x I xV
• Using the probabilities for expectancy,
instrumentality, and valence, you can
calculate how motivated employees are

13.
Source: Luneneburg, F.C. (2011) ExpectancyTheory of
Motivation: Motivating by Altering Expectations.
Retrieved From
http://www.nationalforum.com/Electronic%20Journal
%20Volumes/Luneneburg,%20Fred%20C%20Expectan
cy%20Theory%20%20Altering%20Expectations%20IJ
MBA%20V15%20N1%202011.pdf
Joshua Render
Vroom’s ExpectancyTheory:
https://agile-mercurial.com/2019/07/08/vrooms-expectancy-theory-of-motivation/
https://agile-mercurial.com/
https://twentyfirstcenturyworkforce.com/