Management educators teaching topics such as motivation and leadership face the challenge of clearly explaining why so many diverse theories exist and why each represents a useful tool worth learning. The large number of "core" theories in these and other management domains often frustrates students, who see the lack of a single, comprehensive…

This brief survey of the conceptual development of the morale-productivity relationship examines some of the major representative studies of this subject from the 1930s through the 1970s. The author notes the trend away from thinking of productivity and morale as simply and directly related, the traditional view assumed in the early research. He…

Effective appraisal depends on three essential elements: employees who are motivated to achieve goals, who have the necessary mental and physical ability, and who clearly understand the demands of the job. What this implies for systems touching on these elements is spelled out in detail. (Author/MLF)

The author suggests that training program developers be upfront about the training purpose, be sure the training creates a positive experience for trainees, consider not only what happens during the training, but what occurs before and after, and ensure that program content is something the trainees will choose to put into practice. (CT)

Learning at Work is a Scottish program attempting to widen access to higher education across socioeconomic groups through work-based learning. Factors limiting participation include motivation, employer perceptions of the value of higher education, lack of a learning culture, and economic feasibility. (SK)

This study examined factors (user satisfaction with computer information system function, desired involvement, attitudes toward computer information system staff, and user beliefs about the system) motivating users to become involved in new computer system development and found that user overall satisfaction with computer information system…

Offers suggestions for managers relative to the employee selection process, focusing on the identification of a potential employee's needs and the employer's motivators that affect employee productivity. Discusses the use of a preemployment survey and offers a questionnaire that allows matching of the employee's needs with employment…

This study examines potential responses to a change in an employee reward system from permanent merit pay increases to one-time bonus payments. Removing long term risks associated with escalating pay is an increasingly common compensation strategy. Often overlooked, however, are employee perceptions of reward fairness under such conditions of…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that might lead an individual to pursue part-time (PT) employment. Design/methodology/approach: The paper hypothesized that employees have very different motivations for PT working, and that these motivations will affect their work experiences. The paper builds on recent research…

Early research on motivation, especially achievement motivation, was based on a dynamic model which focused on enduring affective dispositions growing out of early childhood experiences. Cognitive theory provided a way to reconceptualize achievement motivation in terms of achievement-related perceptions, thoughts, and meanings, and a framework for…

This bibliography provides an up-to-date compilation of literature covering all aspects of the employee attitude survey process. It is intended for both researcher and practitioner. A wide variety of sources are represented with a focus on the past 10-12 years of attitude survey research. The 473 citations compiled are categorized under 7 separate…

Job restructuring and worker participation in decision making is humanizing technology in the land of Volvo and Saab and cutting down employee alienation and absenteeism. (Author)

Considerable research has examined the correlates of job involvement and its conceptual independence from the notions of satisfaction and motivation, with an indication of considerable overlap beween the three concepts as well as the possibility that job involvement may be more aligned with motivation than with satisfaction. A job attitude survey…

Examines possible reasons for declining employee motivation: greater instability and diversity of values; more guaranteed rewards; inability of rewards to satisfy emerging needs; disappearing work ethic; reduced costs of failure; rising income and progressive taxation; more group production and problem solving; decreased employee loyalty; less…

Analyzed responses of male and female managers indicating that direct contact with women supervisors may dispel traditional female role stereotypes and beliefs about women not being career-oriented. Generalizability of findings is limited to fields with a large number of female administrators. Research in other fields is suggested. (JAC)