“the Impact of Employee Motivation on Job Performance”

University of South Wales

Business School

Research Methods (BS4S07)

MBA

Lecturer: Dr. Evangelos Tsoukatos

Title: “The Impact of Employee Motivation on Job Performance”

Word Count: 7450

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I first want to say thanks to God for given me the grace, strength and ability to make it this far in my education and guiding me through this project.

I desire to express my sincere thanks to my lecturer Dr. Evangelos Tsoukatos; for his exceptional dedication, support, assistance, guidance, time, patience and understanding which enabled me to complete this research study.

ABSTRACT

This research study investigates the Impact of Employee Motivation on Job Performance. The objective of this research study is to identify factors that affect employee motivation on job performance. The research study employed a qualitative research design in gathering data from one organisation in Barbados. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used with a sample size of nine (9) participants. The findings showed that there is a relationship between employee motivation and job performance. It also showed that, rewards and recognition is valued more by employees and has a positive impact on job performance. It further showed that, employees who perceived that they work efforts are not being recognized or appreciation, they decreased their efforts put in. There are some key implications for motivating employees. The expectancy theory highlighted numerous things that managerial staff can do to motivate employees by changing the individual’s effort-to-performance and performance-to-rewards expectancy and rewards valance.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Illustration        i

List of Tables        ii

Introduction        1

Purpose and Objective of the Research Study        1

Justification of the Research Study        1

Literature Review        2

Motivation        2

Employee Motivation        3

Job Performance        3

Motivational Theories        5

Theoretical Framework        8

Research Methods and Design        10

Research Design        10

Source of Data        10

Sampling Techniques and Sample Size        11

Data Collection Procedures        11

Operationalization (measures)        11

Data Analysis, Findings and Discussion        13

Data Analysis        13

Findings and Discussion        14

Managerial and Research Implications        17

Key Managerial Implication        17

Effort-to-Performance Expectancy        17

Performance-to-Rewards Expectancy        17

Rewards Valance        17

Research Implications        18

Conclusion        19

Limitations/Future Research        20

Bibliography        21

APPENDICES        32

APPENDIX A – Interview Questions        32

Appendix B – Confidentiality Agreement form        36

List of Figures and Illustration

Figure 1. Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Model…………………………………………………………………….6

Figure 2. Alderfer ERG Theory…………………………………………………………………………………………7

Figure 3. Basic Expectancy Model……………………………………………………………………………………8

Figure 4. Expectancy Theory Motivation Equation……………………………………………………………9

List of Tables

Table 1. The Sections and number of employees to be interviewed…………………………………11

Table 2. Axial and Selective Coding………………………………………………………………………………..13

Introduction

Purpose and Objective of the Research Study

Employers in Caribbean organisation’s today would like to have all their employees motivated, willing and fully ready to work. However, they may not truly understand what motivates their employee. There are essential needs that need to be met for employees to succeed in the workplace. Consequently, the purpose of this research study is to examine the factors that affects Caribbean employee motivation and the influence these factors have on their job performance. Since; no two employees are motivated in the same manner, the objective for conducting this research study is to:

• To identify factors that affect employee motivation on job performance.

Justification of the Research Study

Employee motivation has been a popular research topic for decades. This topic has gained attention from both public and private sectors in the Caribbean. However, further consideration needs to be employed in the efforts of motivating employees. Additionally; these efforts made should ensure that optimal performance is attained and, causes averting such identified. Multiple studies and literature that focus on employee motivation include; Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory (1943), Frederick Herzberg Two-Factor Theory (1968), Victor Vroom Expectancy Theory (1964), Stacy Adams Equity Theory (1965) and Edwin Locke & Latham Goal-Setting Theory (1960). Despite this, no attention has been given to motivation within organisations in the Caribbean specifically Barbados. Employee motivation in the Caribbean needs special investigation due to our culture, standards and perceptions.