Reinforcement+and+Behavioural+Modification+Theory

=Strategies on Enhancing Motivation=

Reinforcement/ Behavioural Modification Theory
toc This strategy involves selectively rewarding employee behaviours that are deemed desirable, wherein reinforcement techniques are used to shape the employees behavioural responses and there likelihood to demonstrate said positive behavioural.

First, managers must determine which behaviours are beneficial to the organization and thus the conduct that the selected methods of reinforcement will seek to encourage. Furthermore, the employer must also identify the behaviours exhibited by staffs that are of nuisance to the organization and its achievement of its organizational goals, and thus the activities or conduct that reinforcement methods will attempt to dissuade.

Reinforcement itself involves modifying or controlling behaviour through the use of punishment/reward systems that can either positively or negatively encourage or dissuade a given behavioural response. This strategy is intended to increase employee motivation to demonstrate certain desirable behaviours by either conditioning them to seek reward for said good behaviour or through instilling in them a dislike of the punishment associated with its negative counterparts. Indeed, there are four reinforcement options that can be used by managers:

Positive reinforcement
This involves administering a positive consequence to an employee subsequent to a desired behaviour. Example: An employee is awarded a bonus for surpassing his monthly sales quota (CORTIMO, 2011).

Punishment
This involves administering a negative consequence to an employee subsequent to an undesired behaviour Example: The manager calls a employee into his office to discuss the causes of substandard performance. As this is generally viewed as unpleasant by most employees, it can be viewed as a negative consequence that the employee will strive to henceforth avoid (CORTIMO, 2011).

Omission/extinction
This involves withholding a positive consequence from an employee subsequent to a undesired behaviour Example: An employee is denied his yearly Christmas bonus because his performance was substandard during the last quarter.

Negative Reinforcement
This involves withholding a negative consequence from an employee subsequent to a desired behaviour. Example: A nagging employer with cease to pester the employee once a task is completed.

Representative Table

 * || Administered || Withheld ||
 * Reward || Positive Reinforcement || Omission/Extinction ||
 * Punishment || Punishment || Negative Reinforcement ||

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