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MOTIVATION, ORIENTATIONS AND THE ACTION PERSPECTIVE: AN ALTERNATIVE FRAMEWORK
Author(s) -
Wynn Paul S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of management studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.398
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1467-6486
pISSN - 0022-2380
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1980.tb00402.x
Subject(s) - operationalization , confusion , action (physics) , perspective (graphical) , work (physics) , orientation (vector space) , work motivation , psychology , goal theory , social psychology , sociology , epistemology , computer science , mathematics , engineering , mechanical engineering , philosophy , physics , geometry , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , psychoanalysis
Summary T he paper commences by suggesting that the traditional social action model of workplace behaviour, which focuses on the concept of orientation to work, is an inadequate model for explaining work motivation. It suggests that the deficiencies result from an inadequate definition of motivation and confusion about the concept of orientation. An alternative model is developed which replaces the concept of orientation with the twin concepts of motivation to work and attachment to work. The final part of the paper suggests how this alternative model may be operationalized and discusses the benefits that this formulation has for both academics and practising managers.