Work Motivation: History, Theory, Research, and Practice

by Gary P. Latham

Overview

A seminal work in the field of motivation by the leading author on the topic, this classic has been fully revised and updated to include and distill the most current research from top international scholars. Drawing upon his experiences as a staff psychologist and consultant, Gary P. Latham writes in a mentor voice that is highly personal and rich in examples, providing a unique behavioral science framework for motivating employees in organizational settings. The book offers a chronological review of the field, and a taxonomy for the study and practice of motivation, complete with anecdotes about the major thought leaders in the field of motivation and behind-the-scenes research accounts. Highlights of this updated edition include new findings in goal-setting research, including insight into the dark side of goal-setting; more on the self in motivation, including self-regulated learning, self-evaluation methods, and the significance of self-efficacy as a predictor of performance and satisfaction; and more trending in the area of positive psychology and prosocial behavior in organizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483317205
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/05/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	456
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Gary Latham is the Secretary of State Professor of Organizational Effectiveness in the Rotman School School of Management at the University of Toronto.  He is a Past President of the Canadian Psychological Association, a Fellow of the Academy of Management, the American Psychological Association, American Psychological Society, Canadian Psychological Association, and the Royal Society of Canada.  He is the only person to receive both the awards for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology as a Profession and as a Science from the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology.  He is also the recipient of the Scholarly Practitioner and the Heneman Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Management Human Resource Division.  He is the co-author of A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance with Edwin A. Locke; and Increasing Productivity through Performance Appraisal, and Developing and Training Human Resources, both with K. N. Wexley.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments: Person-Environment Fit
Introduction: Thirteen Critical Incidents in the Life of a Scientist-Practitioner
PART I: THE 20TH CENTURY: UNDERSTANDING THE PAST
Chapter 1: 1900–1925: Biology, Behavior, and Money
Chapter 2: 1925–1950: Dust Bowl Empiricism
Chapter 3: 1950–1975: The Emergence of Theory
Chapter 4: 1975–2000: The Employee Is Immersed in Thought
Chapter 5: 20th-Century Controversies
PART II: THE 21ST CENTURY: EXAMINING THE PRESENT: 2000–2010
Chapter 6: Needs: The Starting Point of Motivation
Chapter 7: Personality Traits: Distal Predictors of Motivation
Chapter 8: Values: Trans-Situational Goals
Chapter 9: Cognition: Goals, Feedback, and Self-Regulation
Chapter 10: Social Cognitive Theory
Chapter 11: Affect/Emotion: The Employee Has Feelings Too
PART III: FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND POTENTIAL MISDIRECTIONS
Chapter 12: Boundaryless Psychology
PART IV: EPILOGUE
Chapter 13: The Art of Practice

Editorial Reviews

"Dr. Latham's book is very detailed about under whom and where the major writers on work motivation studied.  This makes for interesting asides.  His footnotes are both informative and eyebrow raising.  His personal journey through all this is insightful, charming, and a great contribution to understanding the lineage of psychologists.  I plan on loaning to other nonpsychologists as well as assigning it to my students. "

—CANADIAN PSYCHOLOGY

Adam S. Radomsky

Gary,

Forgive the length of this e-mail, but I have been reading your new book on my job trip and I wanted to send you some thoughts. First, thanks for reminding me why I entered this profession. The last few years have been frustrating for me, mainly because I have been torn between the science and the practice of business. While my experiences at Wichita State and here at Chico have been valuable, I have not done a very good job of integrating the two. Your book is reminding me why good social science really adds value to the practice of business, entrepreneurship included.

Second, your anecdotes are fabulous. They are reminding me that the real payoff of our profession is the ability to exchange ideas with other smart people. I have to say that one thing I have done well over the past few years is to learn from people who know more than I do.

You, Ed, Maureen Ambrose, and Joe Rosse are just some examples. I think the best example you gave of the never-ending process of learning was your encounter with Chris Argyris. I about split my sides on reading that one.

Third, and this is what qualifies my reading of the book as a "critical incident," it primed me for my interview at Illinois State. Though I knew before I went that I wanted a position that afforded me more time and resources for research, I was able to see the big picture much more clearly. My research presentation was the best I have ever made. I felt like I knew my stuff and that while I have been less focused the past few years than I would like, I had actually done a pretty good job of preparing for my next career phase. Your book was the final trigger I needed.

So, all of this figures in some "resolutions" on my part. Number one, scholarship is now my professional priority. When I do practice it will be with an eye toward furthering our knowledge of entrepreneurship.

Number two, you have taught me the value of fast turnaround time. I have resolved that when I am working with others, they will get manuscripts and correspondence back as fast as you get them back to me.

(I do realize how challenging that goal is, by the way.)

This Monday morning finds me optimistic. I believe I have a very good chance of landing that job and there is every indication that it is exactly where I need to be to accomplish my professional and personal goals. Thanks once again for your willingness to be a mentor. One day, I hope to do the same for others.

Best,

Terry W. Noel
Associate Professor of Management and Quantitative Methods Illinois State University

Terry W. Noel