Victor Vroom’s Expectancy Theory

Question 1

Question:
Who is Victor Vroom, and what is his Expectancy Theory of motivation? How does it work, and how is it applied in workplaces?

Answer 1

Answer:
Victor Vroom (b. 1932) is a Canadian business psychologist who developed the Expectancy Theory in 1964.
His theory focuses on how people make decisions based on expected outcomes, especially in the workplace.

🧠 Core Formula of the Theory:
Motivation = Expectancy × Instrumentality × Valence

If any one of the three elements is zero, motivation = zero.

🔍 What Each Component Means:
Component Question It Answers Example
Expectancy “Can I do it if I try?” “If I work hard, will I meet the target?”
Instrumentality “Will I be rewarded?” “If I meet the target, will I get a bonus?”
Valence “Do I care about the reward?” “Is the bonus or promotion meaningful to me?”

🏢 How It Applies at Work:
Managers can increase motivation by:

Boosting expectancy – Give training and tools

Clarifying instrumentality – Make rewards transparent

Enhancing valence – Offer meaningful and personalised rewards

📈 Why It Matters:
Focuses on individual perceptions of effort and reward

Explains why some staff are unmotivated even with good pay

Helps tailor motivation strategies to employee beliefs

⚠️ Criticisms:
Assumes people are rational and make logical decisions

Hard to measure or predict all three components in real life

Emotions and external factors (e.g. personal life) are not included