The Expectancy Model

Post Written by: Crystal Kubeczka

Motivation is related to the Expectancy Model. The expectancy model is a simple equation.

Motivation= Expectancy x Instrumentally x Valence

The motivational force is the extent to which a person is likely to engage in a certain course of action. Whereas expectancy is a person’s estimate of the probability that job-related effort will result in a given level of performance. In simpler terms expectancy can be viewed as whether the person thinks they can do something or not. Expectancy can either be a 0 or 1. If a person believes in themselves and thinks they can do something, than they score as a 1. If the person does not think they are capable of doing it then they score a 0. Instrumentality is an individual’s estimate of the probability that a given level of achieved task performance will lead to various work outcomes. In other words instrumentality is when a person knows they can do the task or not. If they know they are capable of the task they score a 1 and if they know they are not eligible for the task then they score a 0. Lastly valence is the strength of an employee’s preference for a particular reward. The reward is the final step of whether the person chooses to do the task or not. The number scale for valence is -1 or 0 or 1. So the person has to ask themselves: “Do you expect to do this? Do you know I can do this? Are you happy with the reward?” Their answers to these questions will reflect their outcome to the expectancy model and their motivation towards that specific task.