Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation - 2104 Words

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, BUSINESS, AND ADMINISTRATION VOLUME 15, NUMBER 1, 2011 Goal-Setting Theory of Motivation Fred C. Lunenburg Sam Houston State University ABSTRACT Locke and Latham provide a well-developed goal-setting theory of motivation. The theory emphasizes the important relationship between goals and performance. Research supports predictions that the most effective performance seems to result when goals are specific and challenging, when they are used to evaluate performance and linked to feedback on results, and create commitment and acceptance. The motivational impact of goals may be affected by moderators such as ability and self-efficacy. Deadlines improve the effectiveness of goals. A learning goal†¦show more content†¦Asking organization members to improve, to work harder, or to do your best is not helpful, because that kind of goal does not give them a focused target. FRED C. LUNENBURG _____________________________________________________________________________________3 Specific goals (often quantified) let organization members know what to reach for and allow them to measure their own progress. Research indicates that specific goals help bring about other desirable organizational goals, such as reducing absenteeism, tardiness, and turnover (Locke Latham, 2002). Goals Must Be Difficult but Attainable A goal that is too easily attained will not bring about the desired increments in performance. The key point is that a goal must be difficult as well as specific for it to raise performance. However, there is a limit to this effect. Although organization members will work hard to reach challenging goals, they will only do so when the goals are within their capability. As goals become too difficult, performance suffers because organization members reject the goals as unreasonable and unattainable. A major factor in attainability of a goal is self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997). This is an internal belief regarding one’s job-related capabilities and com petencies. If employees have high selfefficacies, they will tend to set higher personal goals under the belief that they are attainable. The first key to successful goal setting is to build and reinforceShow MoreRelatedGoal Setting Theory Of Motivation Essay877 Words   |  4 PagesEssay question: It is often claimed that goal-setting is a theory of motivation which works. Critically evaluate the evidence and discuss the extent to which it supports this claim. Introduction As element that drives the person to strive for the best within his or her own capacity, Guay et al. (2010) defined motivation as reasons that underlie behaviour. It is also interpreted by Huitt, W. (2011) cited Kleinginna and Kleinginna (1981) as an internal state or condition (sometimes described as aRead MoreThe Goal Setting Theory Of Motivation1818 Words   |  8 PagesLocke put forth the Goal-setting theory of motivation. This theory states that goal setting is fundamentally linked to task performance. It standardizes the idea that specific and challenging goals along with constructive feedback, contribute to enhanced task performance. Locke, one of the most notable contributors in goal setting theory, alongside Gary Latham have contributed to the history and evolution of goal setting while highlighting strengths and weaknesses of the theory in practice used byRead MoreMotivation Theory And The Goal Setting Theory1159 Words   |  5 Pages Essay 1 Content theories of motivation focus on the importance of work itself, challenges, growth opportunities and responsibilities that the work provides employees. Process theories of motivation focus on the cognitive processes that are part of employee’s decision making. It also deals with our thoughts and perceptions about our jobs. The decisions are made based on calculations of gains versus loses. Also, when it comes to process theories of motivation, how the work situation is perceivedRead MoreThe Goal Setting Theory for Employee Motivation1302 Words   |  6 PagesGoal setting theory can help motivate employees to do their job as managers can relate to Professor Edwin Locke goal theory. The underlying concept behind this theory is the belief that people’s goals play a vital part in deciding their behavior. People drive to satisfy these goals to help their emotions and desires. Goals guide people’s responses and actions. Goals command employee performance an d actions and this can call for action or feedback. The effort that individuals will exert in attemptingRead MoreGoal Setting Theory: Motivation, Stress, and Communication1278 Words   |  5 PagesMotivation, Stress, and Communication Motivation, Stress, and Communication Introduction Goal-setting has progressively become a prominent tool of performance utilized by individuals and business organizations. Companies attain their success by setting long and short-term targets which provide them with direction in productive channels economically. Some of the common attributed elements in goal setting include: sales, services, products, and customer relations in general. The setting of goalsRead MoreCompare and Contrast Expectancy and Goal Setting Theories of Work Motivation. Which Do You Find the More Useful and Why?1384 Words   |  6 Pagescontrast expectancy and goal setting theories of work motivation. Which do you find the more useful and why? Two of the best known approaches to work motivation are the expectancy theory introduced by Victor Vroom (1964) and the goal-setting theory introduced by Edwin A. Locke (1968). Both of these theories have garnered support from subsequent empirical research and have proved influential in how companies motivate their workers through incentive schemes and objective-setting exercises. As theirRead MoreBackground Of Id Medical Group1389 Words   |  6 Pagesbrand, motivation and engagement. The wellbeing is bound up flexibility, work-life balance, motivation, job-satisfaction and human research management. For this reason, the rank of giving something back and wellbeing is very high in 100 companies (high level means not good at about a topic). The two category have included a joint topic which is motivation. The company is not good at about motivation. Therefore, the company is not good financially. 3.0 Motivation and Theories 3.1 Motivation For motivationRead MoreHow Managers Motivate Employees And Helping Managers Keep Their Employees Motivation High Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesMotivation in the workplace has been a frequently discussed subject for at least a century. Whether an employee is doing paperwork behind a desk, helping to put together a car on a conveyor belt, or trying to make a sale, motivation is essential in their job. The reason behind this is simple enough- the more motivated an employee is the more work they tend to get done. However, it can be a struggle for managers to keep their workers motivated. This struggle has led to the development of numerousRead MoreEssay on Reinforcement Versus Goal Theory724 Words   |  3 PagesReinforcement versus Goal Theory Lorraine Patterson OMM 625 Learning Organizations amp; Effectiveness Professor Renee Hill January 30, 2012 According to Edwin Locke the goal setting theory is a tool used for motivation. The theory states that goal setting is linked to task performance. The goal states â€Å"specifically challenging employees while using feedback will contribute to a higher and better performance while completing a task.†(Pane, S) The idea of workingRead MoreEssay on Insight on the Motivation of Workers596 Words   |  3 PagesMotivation has always been a subject of much research over the last fifty years however there have been many definitions and theories describing and analysing motivation but the research is never complete. Right from Robert Owen who described human beings to be like machines that need care and maintenance to work efficiently till Drucker (1999) who described them as the knowledge workers of the 21st century with different needs and therefore on what it is required I would like to elaborate on the

Research Paper (Bah Fraud and Larceny) - 1347 Words

|CATEGORIES |POINTS TO BE GRADED ON: 100 PTS TOTAL |POINTS | |INTEREST | |(5) | | |Many everyday scenarios in the Military are easily overlooked when they do not| | | |directly involve you. This research project explores the common crimes of | | | |larceny and fraud as it pertains inside the military. | | |†¦show more content†¦| | | | | | | |This is the fraud that is used more commonly in the military. Soldiers use | | | |different mechanisms in the military finance department to attempt to receive | | | |more money than they are authorized to receive, particularly for the Basic | | | |Allowance for Housing (BAH). | | | | | | | |Wire/Mail fraud – | | | |Using any means of communication or information delivering system such as | | | |television, phones, computers or mail for the purpose of selling items not | | |

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans Free Essays

string(33) " who served there suffered PTSD\." POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN WAR VETERANS SC-PNG-0000009299 Alwin Aanand Thomson American Degree Program SEGi College Penang 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one’s own or someone else’s physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individual’s ability to cope. We will write a custom essay sample on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans or any similar topic only for you Order Now As an effect of psychological trauma, PTSD is less frequent and more enduring than the more commonly seen acute stress response. Diagnostic symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and increased arousal—such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger, and hyper vigilance. Formal diagnostic criteria in DSM-IV-TR require that the symptoms last more than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (American Psychological Association). . 0 DIAGNOSIS Criteria The diagnostic criteria for PTSD, stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (Text Revision) (DSM-IV-TR), may be summarized as: A: Exposure to a traumatic event This must have involved both (a) loss of â€Å"physical integrity†, or risk of serious injury or death, to self or others, and (b) a response to the event th at involved intense fear, horror, or helplessness (or in children, the response must involve disorganized or agitated behavior). The DSM-IV-TR criterion differs substantially from the previous DSM-III-R stressor criterion, which specified the traumatic event should be of a type that would cause â€Å"significant symptoms of distress in almost anyone,† and that the event was â€Å"outside the range of usual human experience. † B: Persistent re-experiencing One or more of these must be present in the victim: flashback memories, recurring distressing dreams, subjective re-experiencing of the traumatic event(s), or intense negative psychological or physiological response to any objective or subjective. C: Persistent avoidance and emotional numbing This involves a sufficient level of: †¢ avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, such as certain thoughts or feelings, or talking about the event(s); †¢ avoidance of behaviors, places, or people that might lead to distressing memories; †¢ inability to recall major parts of the trauma(s), or decreased involvement in significant life activities; †¢ decreased capacity (down to complete inability) to feel certain feelings; †¢ an expectation that one’s future will be somehow constrained in ways not normal to other people. D: Persistent symptoms of increased arousal not present before These are all physiological response issues, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, or problems with anger, concentration, or hypervigilance. E: Duration of symptoms for more than 1 month If all other criteria are present, but 30 days have not elapsed, the individual is diagnosed with Acute stress disorder. F: Significant impairment The symptoms reported must lead to â€Å"clinically significant distress or impairment† of major domains of life activity, such as social relations, occupational activities, or other â€Å"important areas of functioning†. (DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Assocation) . 0 PTSD IN WAR VETERANS 3. 1 Facts Figures Operation Iraqi Freedom has become the deadliest American military conflict since the Vietnam War. Uto 13 percent of the troops returning from the deployment have reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With the daily violence in this war torn country, service men and women are subjected to increased levels o f stress which can trigger PTSD. After fighting for their country and risking their lives, allowing them to return home only to be haunted by their actions degrades everything they were sent to Iraq to accomplish. Since the Vietnam War, methods of treating PTSD have developed and lowered the number of cases, but simply lowering the number of cases is not good enough. Unless service members can be prevented from experiencing these negative emotions, every one of them is engaged in a possible suicide mission. With the proper procedures introduced and carried out as proposed, not only the service members can be helped, but their families as well. Due to current operations in the Middle East and the recent combat operations in the past decade, many citizens have met somebody who has experienced their share of combat related stress. When you look at somebody who has been in combat, they may look like your average person on the outside, but on the inside lays memories of the violent scenes of war torn countries. Their mental health may not be noticeably altered, but they could very well suffer from haunting memories, flashbacks, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can produce emotional responses caused by the trauma endured during combat operations. It does not have to emerge immediately, but can actually happen weeks, months, or even years after the traumatic event. PTSD was often referred to as â€Å"combat fatigue† or â€Å"shell shock† until 1980 when it was given the name post-traumatic stress disorder. According to William Welch of USA Today, PTSD is produced from a traumatic event that provoked intense fear, helplessness, or horror. The events are sometimes re-experienced through intrusive memories, nightmares, hallucinations, or flashbacks. Symptoms of PTSD include troubled sleep, irritability, anger, poor concentration, hyper vigilance, and exaggerated responses. Emotions felt by victims of PTSD include depression, detachment or estrangement, guilt, intense anxiety, panic, and other negative emotions (2005). Out of over 240,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan already discharged from the service, nearly 13,000 have been in U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) counseling centers for readjustment problems and symptoms associated with PTSD (Welch, 2005). Operation Iraqi Freedom has become the deadliest American conflict since the Vietnam War and because of this, new data detailed by Cep79m. v shows that 12 to 13 percent of troops returning from Iraq reported PTSD symptoms while about 3 to 4 percent reported other mental distress. A new Army study found that 11 percent of troops returning from Afghanistan reported symptoms of mental distress. Although wartime psychology was just beginning during the Vietnam War era, later studies showed that nearly 15 percent of troops who served there suffered PTSD. You read "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans" in category "Essay examples" The most recent studies found that nearly 30 percent of the Vietnam War veterans have developed physiological problems after returning from the war. PTSD estimates for veterans of the first Gulf War range between 2 and 10 percent (2004). These numbers are based on several key factors. The amount of combat related stress varies by unit and will determine the amount of emotional stress a soldier in that particular unit will experience. For example, according to The New England Journal of Medicine, out of 1709 Soldiers and Marines surveyed, those who returned from Iraq reported higher rates of combat experience and frequency than those returning from Afghanistan. It’s probable that those who experience more combat situations are more likely to suffer to PTSD. As noted in The New England Journal of Medicine, out of those surveyed, 71 to 86 percent deployed to Iraq reported engaging in a firefight as apposed to only 31 percent in Afghanistan. Soldiers and Marines returning from Iraq were significantly more likely to report that they were currently experiencing a mental health problem, were interested in receiving help for their mental problems, and actually used mental health services (Hoge et al, 2004). As noted earlier, according to William Welch of USA Today, PTSD is produced from a traumatic event that provoked intense fear, helplessness, or horror (2005). Being wounded while in combat is a perfect example of an event which provokes intense fear. Among those who participated in a recent survey, 11. 6 percent reported being wounded or injured while in Iraq compared to 4. 6 percent of those in Afghanistan (Hoge et al, 2004). This is a clear indication that the events a soldier experiences during deployment will have influence on the possibility of PTSD after redeploying to the United States. Intense situations do not revolve around being wounded or injured. Operation Iraqi Freedom has become the deadliest American conflict since the Vietnam War. As a result, CNN notes that 90 percent of those who served in Iraq reported being shot at. A high percentage also reported killing an enemy combatant, or knowing somebody who was injured or killed. Approximately half said they handled a body while serving in Iraq (2004). In addition to CNN’s article, Cep79m. tv announced amazing data showing one in four Marines reported killing an Iraqi civilian while one in four Army soldiers reported engaging in hand-to-hand combat. More than 85 percent of those surveyed know somebody who has been injured or killed. More than half claimed handling corpses or human remains (2004). 3. Treatment and Prevention There is help available to those returning from the war torn countries. Almost 17 percent of the troops surveyed, who served in Iraq, suffered mental health problems while less than half of them have looked for professional help after ending their tours (Cep79m. tv, 2004). Sergeant First Class (SFC) Doug Sample of the American Forces Pres s Service reports that â€Å"service members can get confidential counseling through the military services’ ‘One Source’ program. The 24-hour-a-day service is for service members and their families, and provides quick, professional assistance with problems† (2004). The reason only half of them are seeking help could be the possibility of negative attention from their unit. Dr. William Winkenwerder says that a main barrier preventing soldiers from getting help â€Å"is the perception of stigma that some individuals have about coming forward to get that care and counseling† (Gilmore, 2004). CNN interviewed Staff Sergeant (SSG) Georg-Andreas Pogany who saw an Iraqi body which had suffered severe trauma on his second day in Iraq. Suffering from a nervous breakdown and struggling to sleep that night, he decided to tell his superior officer. He was afraid he would freeze up on patrol and was worried about the consequences. Instead of being given help, he was told to reconsider his concerns for the sake of his career. A translator attached to the 10th Special Forces Group was sent back and charged with cowardice after experiencing the same type of emotional stress. Though his charge was dropped, his record is still uncertain (2004). Post-traumatic stress disorder may not be preventable in every individual who steps foot inside a combat zone, but things can be done to lower the number of cases which occur after deploying. The army, for example, works under a â€Å"tough and realistic training† motto. They train their soldiers during peacetime as if they were actually in a combat zone. Live-fire ranges along with tough and realistic training have helped soldiers prepare for combat and the numbers developed from the data is surprisingly low. But that doesn’t surprise many people because according to Gilmore, they have used information from former prisoners of wars to help train today’s service members to be ready for combat (2004). The military works on a schedule allowing units to use live fire ranges at certain times with a certain number of live rounds. A possibility to help lower the amount of PTSD cases related to intense combat situations would be allowing soldiers to use live fire ranges more often. If this means raising taxes a little more to allow for a larger budget, then by all means, it’s worth it. Before, during, and after deployment, service members are given counseling sessions to prepare them for intense situations as well as teaching them about the possibility of mental health damage. This has been a change since the Vietnam War, which could be another factor which has helped lower the amount of PTSD cases throughout the military. Another possible solution to PTSD would be to brief soldiers throughout their entire career. Before Operation Enduring Freedom, it had been nearly 10 years since the last major conflict which involved ground forces. In those 10 years, if soldiers were given briefings on the possibility of mental health damage after combat, there is a chance they would have been more prepared to deal with those situations. The Department of Defense could easily make it mandatory that each service member receives several briefings each year during their entire military career to include during deployments. Citing recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research, Winkenwerder noted some people seem more predisposed to develop depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorders as a result of negative childhood experiences† (Gilmore, 2004). Apparently, the better the life a child has while growing up, the more ready for combat they will be. The Department of Defense requires each appl icant for the armed forces to take a test which allows them to qualify for a certain job within the military. Another possibility would be adding a section to the test which measures the type of childhood an applicant experienced. They could then choose only those who did not have many negative childhood experiences, if that statement is at all accurate, to fill their combat oriented positions. 4. 0CONCLUSION According to the data gathered during recent surveys, it is clear that although the violence of war will remain the same, it is possible to lower the percentage of service members who experience mental disturbance such as post-traumatic stress disorder from combat situations. It may be impossible o completely rid the volunteer force of the possibility of PTSD, but with enough counseling before, during, and after combat operations, the percentage of those who suffer from it may be lowered dramatically. More tough and realistic training will also help set soldiers into the mindset of what it takes to survive a combat situation. The treatment and prevention is there, but does not seem to b e used quite enough. Not using the prevention methods is almost like sending our troops on a suicide mission. Cep79m. tv, (2004, July 1). Soldier Mental Illness Hits Vietnam Level. Retrieved April 6, 2012 from http://www. cep79m. v/soldiermentalillness. htm (http://www. cep79m. tv/soldiermentalillness. htm) CNN, (2004, July 1). Combat stress: The war within. Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www. cnn. com/2004/HEALTH/07/01/post. traumatic. stress/ (http://www. cnn. com/2004/HEALTH/07/01/post. traumatic. stress/) Gilmore, G. , (2004, July 1). Combat Degrades Some Troops’ Mental Health, Report Says. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www. defenselink. mil/news/Jul2004/n07012004_2004070106. html (http://www. defenselink. mil/news/Jul2004/n07012004_2004070106. html) Welch, W. , (2005, February 28). Trauma of Iraq War Haunting Thousands Returning Home. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www. commondreams. org/cgi-bin/print. cgi? file=/headlines05/0228-01. htm (http://www. commondreams. org/cgi-bin/print. cgi? file=/headlines05/0228-01. htm) NIMH  · Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Research Fact Sheet†. National Institutes of Mental Health. Retrieved April 16, 2012 from http://www. nimh. org/ptsdfactsheet/ A soldier carrying his wounded compatriot Smoking as a common stress reliever among soldiers. Traumatic flashback occurring on duty. Anti-depressants are common among veterans. Traumatic enough to bring the toughest of men to tears. How to cite Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in War Veterans, Essay examples