Ron’s manager offered him tickets to the theater if he worked the week

QUESTION

Ron’s manager offered him tickets to the theater if he worked the weekend to finish a proposal. Following Vroom’s expectancy theory, Ron quickly did two assessments (expectancy and instrumentality) and is still motivated.

What assessment and companion question must Ron ask to determine his final motivation?
What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER

Answer: Ron must complete the third assessment, called valence. He will ask himself, “How much do I want the reward (theater tickets)?”
Explanation: In expectancy theory, an employee completes three assessments: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. The third assessment determines the desirability of the reward for performing the task. If the employee is still motivated after completing the first two assessments, the valence assessment can still change his or her motivation.