Forventningsteori

Forventningsteori, also known as expectancy theory, is a motivation theory developed by Victor Vroom. It suggests that an individual's motivation to perform a certain action is a result of their belief that the action will lead to a desired outcome. The theory posits that motivation is a product of three key elements: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence.

Expectancy is the belief that effort will lead to performance. For example, a student believes that by studying hard, they will achieve a good grade. Instrumentality is the belief that performance will lead to a reward or outcome. In the same example, the student believes that achieving a good grade will result in praise from their parents or a scholarship. Valence is the value or importance an individual places on the potential outcome. The student might value the praise or scholarship highly, making it a strong motivator.

According to expectancy theory, for motivation to be high, all three elements must be present and strong. If any one of these components is weak or absent, motivation will likely be low. For instance, if a person believes they can perform well but doesn't believe their performance will lead to any reward, their motivation will diminish. Similarly, if they believe performance leads to a reward but doesn't value that reward, their motivation will also be low. Managers can use this theory to understand and enhance employee motivation by ensuring clear links between effort, performance, and rewards, and by understanding what outcomes employees value.