MONTREAL, March 11, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Jacques Forest, a professor at the UQAM School of Management (ESG UQAM), is co-author of an article on work motivation that was published recently in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. Entitled "The Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale: Validation evidence in seven languages and nine countries", the article describes a study initiated seven years ago and conducted by a group of 20 researchers from around the world. It determined that work motivation is the same whether you live in North America (Canada), Africa (Senegal), Europe (Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland) or Asia (Indonesia and China). The article debunks several myths and shows that money is far from the most effective motivation for workers.
Methodology
The main object of the study is to validate theoretical elements of motivation. It also attempts to change some preconceived ideas about why people work, taking into account age, gender, job, sector, language and country of origin. The researchers applied self-determination theory in surveying 3,435 workers from nine countries and a variety of professional backgrounds (e.g., high-tech, education, public service, production, manufacturing, etc.).
Theoretical findings
On a theoretical level, the article describes five main types of motivation, present, in varying degrees, in all workers: "enjoyment", "vocation", "reputation", "rewards", and "amotivation" or lack of motivation. The scale of measurement used by the researchers enabled them to overcome several deficiencies of previous scales (e.g., low reliability), to refine certain levels of analysis that are often overlooked (e.g., rewards are not exclusively monetary; they can be social), and to provide the scientific community with a solid instrument for measuring work motivation.
"The analysis shows that age, gender, employment level, sector and language have virtually no impact on the relative influence of these five types of motivation," said Professor Forest.
Practical implications
On a practical level, organizations that simultaneously increase the motivations of "enjoyment" and "vocation" and decrease the motivations of "reputation" and "rewards" can expect to see improved performance and a reduction in burnout and turnover. In other words, it is possible to reconcile performance and well-being, to the benefit of both employee and employer. This is most likely to occur in organizations where the psychological needs for autonomy, competence and social relatedness are met, and where managers support employees rather than controlling and monitoring them.
For the full article, click here. (available to subscribers)
Authors : Gagné, M., Forest, J., Vansteenkiste, M., Crevier-Braud, L., Van den Broeck, A., Aspeli, A. K., Bellerose, J., Benabou, C., Chemolli, E., Güntert, S. T., Halvari, H., Johnson, P., Indiyastuti, D. L., Molstad, M., Naudin, M., Ndao, A., Olafson, A. H., Roussel, P., Wang, Z., Westbye, C. (2014). The Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale: Validation evidence in seven Languages and nine countries. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.
To view Professor Forest's TEDxMontréal presentation, click here.
About Professor Jacques Forest
Jacques Forest is the second author (out of 20) of this research. He brought to it his theoretical and statistical expertise, as well as knowledge gleaned from his many studies on optimal functioning at work. His many awards include the ESG UQAM Prize for a professor/researcher in the early stages of his career, the science popularization prize from the Association Francophone pour le Savoir (ACFAS), and a grant from the Certified Human Resources Professionals (CHRP) Foundation for his work in this area. Professor Forest also gives courses on human resource management at the ESG UQAM Executive Education Centre.
Information:
Jacques Forest, Ph.D., Psychologist, CHRP
Department of Organization and Human Resources, ESG UQAM
514 987-3000, ext. 3310
[email protected]
SOURCE: UQAM
Source: Joanie Doucet, Media Relations Advisor, Press Relations and Special Events Communications Service, 514 987-3000, ext. 6832, [email protected], @JDoucet11, salledepresse.uqam.ca
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